i have only just started my journey with them but so far they have been amazing, very aformatiove and helpful
Sexual Assault Appeal Solicitors.
If you have been convicted of a sexual offence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual offences against children or indecent image offences, you may be able to challenge your conviction or sentence through the appeals process.
PCS Solicitors are one of the only criminal defence firms in England and Wales to specialise exclusively in sexual offence cases. That specialism extends to appeals. You will work with solicitors who understand both the complexity of sexual offence law and the additional procedural demands of the appeals process.
Speak to a specialist about your appeal
A conviction for sexual offences has consequences beyond your sentence.
You may be on the Sex Offenders Register. You may have lost your career, your relationships, your home. Every professional licence, every CRB check, every arrangement changes with a conviction on your record.
If there is any possibility that your conviction was unsafe or your sentence was excessive, the cost of not pursuing an appeal may be far higher than the cost of exploring it.
What can go wrong in a sexual offence trial?
Miscarriages of justice in sexual offence cases happen. Grounds for appealing a conviction include:
- Legal error: The judge misdirected the jury or made an error in law
- Procedural impropriety: Police or prosecution conduct that undermines the fairness of your trial
- Fresh evidence: Material that was not available at the time of your original trial
- Inadequate representation: Where the handling of your original defence was materially deficient
- Jury irregularities: Misconduct or procedural failures affecting the jury’s deliberations
Why choose PCD Solicitors for your appeal in your sexual assault case?
Not all criminal law firms handle sexual offence appeals. Not all sexual offence firms handle appeals with specialist barristers. We do both.
The appeals process for sexual offence convictions is one of the most technically demanding in criminal law. A successful appeal does not just require identifying an error, it requires presenting that error in a way the Court of Appeal will accept as genuine grounds.
When you instruct PCD Solicitors on an appeal, you get:
- A comprehensive review of your entire case including the investigation, the prosecution evidence, the defence conduct, the trial transcripts and the sentencing
- Access to a national network of specialist appeals barristers who work alongside our team on every case
- Frank, honest advice on whether viable grounds for appeal exist (and realistic guidance on a likely outcome)
- Representation at the Crown Court, Court of Appeal, or through the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) depending on your situation
How the appeals process works.
There are two types of appeal: an appeal on convictions and an appeal on sentence.
Appeal on conviction challenges whether the court’s decision to convict was safe. If successful your conviction is quashed. Grounds must show a legal error, new evidence, or procedural failure that makes the original conviction unreliable.
Appeal on sentence does not challenge the conviction itself. It argues the sentence you received was unlawful, wrong in principle or overly excessive. A successful appeal can result in the sentence being reduced or amended.
The two stages of an appeal
Stage 1: Advice on appeal
Your first step is instructing a specialist firm to conduct a full review of your case. PCD Solicitors will examine the investigation, the prosecution case, the defence conduct, and the details of your trial and sentencing. Working alongside leading appeals barristers, we will identify whether viable grounds exist for appeal.
Stage 2: Application, hearing and outcome
If grounds are identified, the appeals process begins. Where the original trial was in the Magistrates’ Court, you have the right to a re-hearing in the Crown Court. Where the original trial was in the Crown Court, your legal team will submit an application for leave (permission) to appeal to the Court of Appeal. A single judge will review the application and either grant or refuse leave. If leave is granted, the case proceeds to a full hearing before two or three judges.
At the Court of Appeal, the panel focuses on the safety of the conviction – or the appropriateness of the sentence – rather than re-trying the case. They will review trial transcripts and hear legal arguments from both parties. They may dismiss the appeal, quash the conviction, amend the sentence or direct a retrial.
Time limits apply
An application for appeal must usually be submitted within 28 calendar days of verdict or sentence from the Crown Court, and within 15 working days from the Magistrates’ Court. Late applications can be accepted in exceptional circumstances, but delays increase the risk of losing the right to appeal entirely. If you are considering appealing after a sexual offence conviction, get in touch as soon as possible.
You don’t have to accept an unsafe outcome.
The criminal justice system is not infallible. Wrongful convictions and excessive sentences in sexual offence cases do happen. The Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission exist precisely to address them.
It’s a demanding process, and your grounds must be specific. Getting specialist advice at the earliest opportunity can be the difference between a reviewable case and a missed deadline.
PCD Solicitors will give you a frank assessment of your position. If we think viable grounds exist, your case will be built with some of the country’s most experienced appeal barristers.
Let’s talk.
Get a specialist review of your case.
If you think you were convicted of a sexual offence on unsafe grounds, or that the sentence handed down was excessive, PCD Solicitors can review your case and tell you, honestly, whether an appeal is worth pursuing.
We work exclusively in sexual offences. Our appeals team works alongside nationally recognised barristers. And we will not take your case forward unless we actually believe viable grounds exist.
Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation
The Maltings, 100 Wilderspool Causeway,Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6PU, UK
Frequently Asked Questions
I was found guilty but I believe the trial was unfair. Do I have grounds for appeal?
Being dissatisfied with the outcome of your trial is not sufficient grounds to appeal on its own. A successful appeal requires demonstrating a specific legal error, procedural failure, new evidence, or other ground that makes the conviction unsafe. PCD Solicitors will assess your case and give you a realistic view of whether a viable ground exists.
What is the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)?
The CCRC is an independent body that reviews suspected miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Where an appeal through the Court of Appeal has already been rejected, or where significant time has passed since conviction, a CCRC review may be a route you can use. These reviews are complex and focus on overt miscarriages of justice.
Can I appeal if I used a different solicitor at my original trial?
Yes. Poor representation at trial is a potential ground to appeal in itself. You can instruct us to advise on your appeal regardless who represented you originally. We will review the full case, including the conduct of your original defence.
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