Sexual Offences Solicitors
If you’ve been accused of a sexual offence, receiving support from expert sexual offences solicitors is paramount.
We appreciate that such accusations can be incredibly traumatic and humiliating, and that this experience can have extremely serious consequences for your personal life and career.
At Nelson Guest, we have experience defending clients in a diverse range of situations, including cases involving false allegations. We will always tailor our legal support to your circumstances specifically, providing an honest opinion on your outlook and options. Our team can support you by assessing the evidence against you, analysing your case, and reviewing any evidence for your defence.
Sometimes these offences may result in the instruction of a KC (King’s Counsel).
Some of the complex matters in this respect may include:
- Bad character evidence
- S8 Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act applications for ordered disclosure
- Applications to adduce previous sexual tendencies
- S78 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 198 applications to exclude.
Regardless of the complexity of your case, our highly experienced solicitors can support you.
To discuss your needs today, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our sexual offences solicitors at Nelson Guest. You can call us on 020 8309 5010 or email newenquiries@nelson-guest.co.uk
Why choose us?
Our sexual offence solicitors have many years of experience handling sexual offences cases. We understand that these cases are sensitive in nature, and always take a careful and practical approach.
We have cleared countless clients of charges, using our expertise to build a robust case. Our team understand that in times like these, our clients need to feel supported. We will ensure that your concerns are heard and addressed, whilst keeping you well informed on the relevant legal processes as we build your defence.
At Nelson Guest, we know that being faced with these allegations can be incredibly distressing and anxiety inducing. Our aim is always to reduce stress during the necessary legal processes, with practical support and a calm approach.
At Nelson Guest, our aim is to provide an excellent, quality service and value for your money. Our criminal defence department has an excellent track record when it comes to helping clients achieve a favourable outcome.
Our sexual offences solicitors legal service covers all areas of support that an accused client may need, including:
- Legal advice for those who’ve been accused of a sexual offence
- Support to build a case and develop a strong defence
- Representing a client in Court
- Negotiating with the prosecution to reach a more favourable settlement for the client
- Preparing and filing all legal documents required for the legal processes and case
Frequently asked questions
What are sexual offences?
Sexual offences include alleged acts such as rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, statutory rape, voyeurism, exhibitionism, revenge porn, online sexual offenses and more.
Being found guilty of a sexual offence can result in serious legal ramifications including imprisonment, fines, and mandatory sex offender registration.
Sexual offence solicitors play a crucial role in both prosecuting or defending individuals who have been accused of committing sexual offences, protecting their right to a fair and unbiased trial.
Our solicitors specialising in sexual offences are experts in this area of the law. If you have been accused, we can build you a robust case. For more information, please contact our team at Nelson Guest.
What is a serious sexual offence?
A serious sexual offence refers to a sexual crime of an egregious nature. These crimes often cause a huge amount of harm or mental trauma to the victim, therefore warranting serious legal consequences.
These offences encompass acts such as rape, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault involving a deadly weapon, child sexual abuse, and sexual offenses that have been committed against individuals who are considered vulnerable.
There is a pre-existing framework that helps to determine the seriousness of the crime. Legal penalties regarding serious sexual offences tend to be far more severe and can lead to increased prison sentences and mandatory sex offender registration.
What are the three levels of sexual assault?
According to the Sentencing Council Guidelines, the Court must determine the categories of culpability and harm that the offence falls under.
There are three sexual assault offence categories used to determine the level of harm caused, these are:
Category 1
- Severe psychological or physical harm
- Abduction
- Violence or threats of violence
- Forced/uninvited entry into victim’s home
Category 2
- Touching of naked genitalia or naked breasts
- Prolonged detention/sustained incident
- Additional degradation/humiliation
- Victim is particularly vulnerable due to personal circumstances
Category 3
- Factor(s) in categories 1 and 2 not present
The Sentencing Council Guidelines also establish two levels to determine culpability, these are:
Culpability A
- Significant degree of planning
- Offender acts together with others to commit the offence
- Use of alcohol/drugs on victim to facilitate the offence
- Abuse of trust
- Previous violence against victim
- Offence committed in course of burglary
- Recording of offence
- Commercial exploitation and/or motivation
- Offence racially or religiously aggravated
- Offence motivated by, or demonstrating, hostility to the victim based on his or her sexual orientation (or presumed sexual orientation) or transgender identity (or presumed transgender identity)
- Offence motivated by, or demonstrating, hostility to the victim based on his or her disability (or presumed disability)
Culpability B
- Factor(s) in category A not present
What is the sentence for first-time sexual assault?
The level of sentencing varies depending on the circumstances of the case, how the offence is categorised, and any other aggravating factors. Sexual assault is a crime that is taken very seriously, with lengthy prison sentences being a possibility.
If you have been accused of a first-time sexual assault, it is crucial that you speak to an experienced sexual assault solicitor immediately. Our specialist solicitors at Nelson Guest can aid you in navigating this complex legal field.
Is there a time limit on sexual assault in the UK?
In the UK, there is no statutory time limit on sexual assault cases, meaning that there is no timeframe imposed upon reporting a sexual assault. A victim may report a sexual assault no matter how many months or years ago the assault took place. However, the more time the that has passed, the more difficult it can be to gather evidence and pursue a case.
How much do criminal solicitors charge?
Our sexual offence solicitors can offer a free 10-minute consultation over the phone or at one of our offices. During this consultation, we will swiftly assess your case and provide advice on the best next steps for you to take.
We always give clear, practical advice on your best options and how to handle your case from beginning to end. If you should choose to instruct us after your consultation, we will provide you with a specified quote for our legal services.
This quotation is fixed and transparent, with no hidden fees, allowing you to make an informed decision on whether you would like to work with us.
Contact our solicitors
To get in contact with our sensitive and professional sexual assault solicitors in London, you can call our office on 020 8309 5010 or use our contact form.