Rape & Sexual Offences Solicitors

Rape and Sexual Offences Solicitors

If you have been charged with any form of sexual offence you will need a solicitor who has the specialist knowledge and experience required to mount a strong defence on you behalf.

Here at Norrie Waite & Slater we have a large team of specialist solicitors with a great deal of experience in dealing with sexual offence cases including false allegations of rape.

Being arrested for a sexual offence is an extremely difficult experience which can affect your relationships with loved ones as well as your wider reputation. We can provide the legal support you need in a sensitive, confidential and professional manner.

If you have been charged with a sexual offence contact us now to speak to one of our solicitors in confidence.

Types of sexual offence

There are a large number of different sexual offences with which it is possible to be charged. Separate specific offences also exist for sexual offences involving children at the age levels of under 13, 16 and 18.

Common offences include:

• Rape (including date rape)
• Assault by penetration
• Sexual assault
• Causing sexual activity without consent
• Meeting a child following sexual grooming
• Abuse of position of trust offences
• Paedophile offences against children
• Abuse of children through child pornography or child prostitution
• Familial child sex offences (including incest offences)

Rape

Rape is defined in the following way:
The elements of rape are:

(a) A intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis;
(b) B does not consent to the penetration, and
(c) A does not reasonably believe that B consents

Penetration of the mouth is included. Rape is still a crime of basic intent, and drunkenness is no defence.

Assault by penetration

The elements of assault by penetration are:
A person (A) intentionally penetrates the vagina or anus of another person (B) with a part of their body or anything else.

(a) The penetration is sexual
(b) (B) does not consent to the penetration, and
(c) (A) does not reasonably believe that B consents

Sexual assault

The elements of the offence of sexual assault are:

(a) A person (A) intentionally touches another person (B)
(b) The touching is sexual
(c) B does not consent to the touching, and
(d) A does not reasonably believe that B consents

Consent to sex

Most cases of alleged sexual assault or rape will revolve around the idea of consent. It will be up to the defendant's solicitor to show that in fact consent to the sexual activity did exist and that the person making the accusations was in a position to give consent. If consent did not in fact exist, it may still be possible to mount a defence on the basis that the accused had "reasonable belief" that consent did exist.

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