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04 Jun 2021

If you are the victim of a sexual offence or are wrongly accused of committing a sexual offence this can have a major negative impact on your life, both physically and emotionally and can even lead to you losing your liberty, if found guilty, through imprisonment. If you find yourself in a situation where you require a sexual offence solicitor, visit ABV Solicitors where we have experienced and qualified lawyers available to give you expert, professional and friendly advice.

What are sexual offences?

A sexual offence solicitor will tell you that there are a number of criminal offences that come under the umbrella of sexual offences. Statistics have shown that in the UK the number of sexual offences recorded have tripled in recent years. This is a prevalent crime and the laws are becoming even more stringent to protect victims.

The main sexual offence that a sexual offence solicitor has to deal with is rape. The legal definition for rape is the unlawful penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth with a penis without consent. Rape is the most serious sexual offence that can be committed and carries the most serious repercussions. Rape carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. If you are wrongly accused of committing rape it can cause a great amount of pain, anguish, stress and anxiety as its conviction can lead to imprisonment, loss of liberty, social stigma, damaged relationships and loss of livelihood.

Sexual assault is a criminal offence that is similar to rape however the difference is that it is the unlawful penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth with any part of the body other than the penis or with an object, without consent. Sexual assault has been defined as the psychological, physical and emotional violation that is inflicted on someone without their consent. The key factor in both rape and sexual assault is lack of consent. Where there is consent it becomes difficult to prove that a rape or sexual assault has been committed. The sexual offence solicitor will be able to explain the difference with the two offences and it is essential due to the severity of the crimes that the perpetrator is being charged for the correct crime.

People often think that rape and sexual assault only occur between strangers. This is a common misconception. In the majority of instances, the victim knows the identity of their perpetrator and is in most occasions either a relative, friend or colleague. It is also important to remember that rape can also occur between married couples or those in a relationship. If one of the couples in the relationship does not consent to sexual intercourse then it is considered to be rape. Often people are scared to admit that they are experiencing sexual assault in their marriage or relationship. If you are feeling this way, seek advice and support as soon as you can as there are a number of organisations that will be able to help you and will be able to provide you with the expert, friendly advice that you require.