Marcus sorted out my images case for me. Top team got me a great result. Really pleased with the outcome as I can now move on with my life. Thanks Marcus
Child Sexual Offence Solicitors.
If you have been accused of a sexual offence involving a child, the next few hours and days can be critical. The decisions you make now, including who represents you and when, can directly affect the outcome of any investigation.
At PCD Solicitors, we represent individuals at every stage of a child sexual offence allegation, from the moment police make contact through to trial and, where necessary, appeal. Our practice is built entirely around sexual offence defence. It is all we do, and what we are expert in.
Speak to our team today. We are available around the clock, including for police station attendance.
Available 24 hours a day
Speak to a child sexual offence solicitor now.
An allegation of a sexual offence involving a child will not resolve itself. Early, specialist legal advice gives you the best chance of preventing a charge, reducing the number of charges you face, or building the strongest possible defence before evidence is gathered or decisions are made.
Contact PCD Solicitors now for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We represent clients across England and Wales.
- Free initial consultation
- Available 24/7, including police station representation
- No judgement. Confidential from the first call.
What is a child sexual offence?
Numerous child sexual offences are detailed within the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and cover a wide range of conduct. Police and prosecutors routinely consider multiple offences simultaneously, and the same set of facts can lead to charges carrying very different maximum sentences.
Understanding precisely what you have been accused of, and what the prosecution will need to prove, is the first step in building your defence.
Offences involving children under 13
Children under 13 cannot legally consent to any sexual activity. Consent is not a defence and is not considered by the courts. Offences in this category include rape of a child under 13, assault by penetration of a child under 13, and sexual assault of a child under 13. The most serious offences carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Offences involving children aged 13 to 15
Children in this age group cannot consent in law, regardless of what is said to have happened. Offences including sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. Maximum sentences vary significantly depending on the nature of the alleged act, and whether penetration was involved.
Offences involving children aged 16 to 17
Sexual activity with a 16 or 17-year-old is not automatically an offence. However, if you hold a position of trust (for example if you’re a teacher, coach, carer or hold a similar position) the law removes consent as a defence under the abuse of position of trust provisions. These charges carry a maximum of five years in prison.
Other child sexual offences
A number of additional offences may be considered depending on the alleged facts in your case:
- Child grooming: Arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence (Sexual Offences Act 2003, s.14)
- Sexual communication with a child: Sending sexual messages to a child under 16 (Serious Crime Act, s.67). This offence carries up to two years’ in prison but can raise significantly if any communication involves causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
- Indecent images of children: Possession, distribution or production of indecent photographs of a child (Protection of Children Act 1978; Criminal Justice Act 1988). Up to 10 years in prison.
- Child exploitation offences
What are the penalties for child sexual offences?
Sentences for child sexual offences range from community orders for lower-category cases to life imprisonment for the most serious. The Sentencing Council guidelines for sexual offences against children use a three-step framework of culpability, harm and aggravating or mitigating factors.
Factors that usually increase a sentence include conduct over a sustained period, multiple victims, use of threats, grooming behaviour or the age of the child involved. Showing genuine remorse, having no previous convictions and engaging early with the court process can go in your favour of reducing your sentence.
As well as a prison sentence, being convicted for a child sexual offence has longer standing consequences:
- Entry onto the sex offenders register, which applies automatically on conviction.
- A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) restricting your activities and access to children.
- Listing on the DBS barred list, preventing you working with children or vulnerable adults.
- A criminal record.
What to do if you have been accused or arrested.
The way you respond in the early stages of an investigation can significantly affect everything that follows. These are the most important steps you should take immediately.
What defences are available to you?
Every case is different, and your defence strategy depends on the specific allegation, the evidence available and the facts of your case. That said, the following arguments have been central to successful defences in child sexual offence cases in the past:
- No offence actually took place
- Mistaken identity
- Reasonable belief the child was over 16
- Lack of the required mental element where images are involved
- Digital and forensic evidence challenges
- False or fabricated allegations
- Mental ill-health of the person making the complaint
- Accuracy of memory, especially with historic cases
In complex cases involving multiple charges or multiple pieces of legislation, including older legislation that has since changed, there are more areas that the prosecution may have made mistakes. More charges does not always mean a worse outcome.
How we can help
PCD Solicitors is an exclusively sexual offence practice. We do not cover other areas of criminal law. That focus means our team develops deep knowledge of the legislation, the evidence types and the tactics that matter in these types of cases.
We represent clients at every stage of the process:
- Pre-arrest: Advising you on your rights before police make contact
- Police station: Attending interviews across England and Wales, 24 hours a day
- Pre-charge: Making representation to the Crown Prosecution Service to prevent charges being brought
- Crown Court: Preparing and conducting full trials with leading barristers
- Appeal: Challenging convictions and sentences where legal ground exists
Our approach to your case combines meticulous preparation with forensic analysis of the evidence against you, including digital evidence, forensic data and the credibility of the account given by the complainant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my solicitor if I am already represented?
Yes. You have the right to change your solicitor at any stage of your case. You are not committed to whoever represented you at the police station or whoever you first instructed. If you feel your current representation is not specialist enough, is not proactively managing your case, or has not explained your options clearly, you can transfer to us.
The police have taken my phone and devices. What does that mean for my case?
Device seizure is standard practice in child sexual offence investigations. Police can apply for a warrant to seize mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and any other internet-connected devices where they believe evidence may be held. In some cases, devices are taken at the point of arrest. In others, a warrant is obtained separately and executed at your home.
The analysis of that data can take weeks or months. During that time, you may be bailed or released under investigation. The forensic examination will typically look at communications, images, deleted files, app data, and browsing history.
What matters at this stage is what you do before that analysis concludes. Call us now. We can advise you on your rights, ensure the seizure was lawful, and begin building your defence before the police have completed their review. Early advice is not an admission. It is your legal right.
I have been falsely accused. Do I still need a solicitor?
Yes. This is one of the most important decisions you will face. An allegation is not proof of anything. But how you respond to it, particularly in any police interview, can have serious consequences for your case, even if you are completely innocent.
Innocent people do give interviews that damage their defence. Innocent people do say things that are taken out of context, interpreted differently under cross-examination, or used to undermine their credibility months later. The police interview is not a conversation. It is evidence gathering.
A specialist solicitor will ensure you understand your rights before you say a single word, attend the interview with you, and advise on how to respond, including when the right answer is no comment. If the allegation is false, the right legal advice from the beginning is what protects you.
Let’s talk.
Contact our child sexual offence solicitors
If you or someone close to you has been accused of a child sexual offence, do not wait to get legal representation. The sooner specialist advice is taken, the more options are available to you.
PCD Solicitors offers a free, confidential initial consultation with no obligation. We will listen, explain your position clearly and tell you honestly what we can do for you.
- Available 7 days a week
- Emergency police station representation anywhere in England and Wales
- Free initial consultation
- Confidential from the first contact
- Representing clients across England and Wales
All enquiries are dealt with in complete confidence.
The Maltings, 100 Wilderspool Causeway,Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 6PU, UK
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