The term “sexual offence” encompasses allegations ranging from the relatively minor to the extremely serious. However, wherever they lie on the scale, they always come with much stigma attached. Allegations of this sort often have a devastating effect not just for you, but for your family and friends. Furthermore, it is essential that you consider the aftermath of these cases: for example, whether, if convicted, you are liable to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register or made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (S.H.P.O). For all these reasons it is essential you obtain legal advice as early as possible to ensure the best outcome.
Common features of sexual offences
There is no time limit on sexual offences being prosecuted. In some cases, a complaint is made soon after the offence is alleged to have happened, but not always. Sometimes, in cases know as historical sexual offences, the complaint does surface until many years later.
Whatever the timeframe, it is most common for the complainant to provide their statement to trained officers using a video interview. This provides a number of safeguards for the accused, notably assurances that the interviewing officer in no way “leads” the victim with their questioning techniques, and it also gives the viewer an opportunity to analyse the body language of the accuser – something which may provide your legal team with important clues which may prove crucial to your defence.
What you can expect
You may be asked to attend the police station as a volunteer, or in some cases arrested as part of the investigation. Under no circumstances should you carry out an interview without legal representation. You can find out why we strongly advise this here and remember that any advice at a police station is free of charge.
What to expect after charge
It is a well-publicised that allegations of sexual offences come with unique difficulties for the prosecution. Often, they do not meet the strict evidential requirements the Crown Prosecution Service demand for cases of this sort. For example, a serious case of rape may turn on the issue of consent with just one person’s word against another. It is not unusual for such cases to involve intoxication through drink, drugs, or both which always serves to muddy the waters.
It is our job at SMART Criminal Defence to analyse each and every case, to do our best to ensure you are never charged, or to obtain an acquittal if you are unfortunate enough to come before the courts. We understand the acute stress these cases inevitably bring with them, particularly if your identity is not protected. We have years of experience of picking through these cases, picking up points which often go unnoticed, but which may mean the difference between you being acquitted rather than convicted.
Please contact us now for an in-depth no-charge consultation which will of course be held in the strictest of confidence. We would warmly welcome an enquiry via our Contact page or call us free of charge on 0333 200 8581. We pride ourselves in getting back to all enquirers promptly.
