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10 Aug 2022

Rape is one of the most serious criminal offences for which, under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, you can be sentenced to life imprisonment. The law describes rape as illegal sexual activity where a male uses his penis to penetrate the vagina, anus or mouth of the victim without their consent. Assault by penetration is when a male or female penetrates the vagina or anus of the victim with another body part or a foreign object without the victim’s consent. This is also prosecuted under the same sentencing guidelines as rape which means that if convicted you may receive life imprisonment. Statutory rape is when either of the above occur and the victim is below the age of consent, which in the UK is 16 years old. Again, this carries a sentence of life imprisonment.

Here, in the UK, 16 is when a person can legally take part in sexual activity, because the law believes that they have the freedom and capacity to make that choice. However, consent is the key factor in defining whether or not you have taken part in sexual intercourse or you have raped your victim. If you are confused or would like to learn more about consent then it is important to research the topic for your own safety and the safety of others.

The importance of legal representation

At ABV Solicitors our specialist sexual offence solicitor is well accustomed to the complexity of a sexual offence allegation. You may have been falsely accused of a sexual offence, you may have carried out sexual activity where there has been misunderstanding with the issue of consent or you may be the guilty of forcibly carrying out sexual activity without consent. Whichever situation you find yourself, in it is vital that you speak to us immediately so that we can delegate our specialist sexual offence solicitor to you. A sexual offence allegation can be a highly distressing situation to find yourself in, with devastating impact on your family, friends and loved ones. You may be asked to leave your job, it can ruin your career, your social reputation, your freedom and it can lead to financial ruin. Even if you are cautioned for a sexual offence you will automatically be placed on the Sex Offenders Register which can have detrimental impact on your future.

It is very important that a sexual offence allegation is dealt with professionally using an expert approach from the earliest stage, so that we can can help achieve the minimum sentencing possible for you. Sexual offence cases are dealt with very severely by the law here in the UK, but our sexual offence solicitor will take immediate, proactive steps to try and achieve a positive outcome for you. We will be able to offer you our professional guidance and representation starting from the interview at the police station. Then, collecting all necessary evidence and witnesses to support your case, completing all paperwork on your behalf in a correct and timely manner and representing you with the highest level of defence in the court. For particularly complex cases we instruct some of the leading barristers in the country and we will all work together to help defend your case. Speak to our sexual offence solicitor today to find out more.