Child Grooming Offences
If you are investigated on suspicion of child grooming offences or you are facing grooming charges, you are likely to find it very stressful. Our expert child grooming defence solicitors can act for you, providing you with the advice and support you need at this difficult time.
We will ensure that you have representation during the investigation, to include in respect of police interviews under caution. Wherever possible, we will work to have charges dropped if we are able to show that the evidence against you is weak.
We know that grooming allegations or accusations of engaging in sexual activity with a child can cause serious damage to a reputation and to a career. You will find our team to be helpful and sensitive and we will always handle your case with the utmost discretion.
Our expertise in helping those accused of child grooming includes:
- Representing and advising before interview police interview
- Bail applications
- Advice on the strength of the case and the options available
- Preparing a strong defence
- Taking steps to have the case dismissed where possible
- Preparing for court
- Arranging for expert representation at court
Contact our child grooming solicitors
If you are facing child grooming allegations or charges, you should speak to an expert child grooming solicitor immediately. It is important to have legal advice and guidance before you are interviewed by police to ensure that your position is safeguarded.
Our team have many years of experience in defending allegations of child grooming offences and an excellent track record in providing the strongest possible defence.
Call on 020 8309 5010 | Ask us a Question | Email us
Navigating this page
- What is child grooming?
- Grooming charges
- What is Section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003?
- What is sexual communication with a child Section 15A
- How is grooming proved?
- What are the laws on grooming in the UK?
- Can you be prosecuted for grooming?
- What is the penalty for grooming in the UK?
What is child grooming?
Child grooming is the building of a relationship with an individual aged under 16 for the purposes of using them in some way. Child sexual grooming involves the intention of preparing a child for sexual abuse.
Grooming charges
If someone is suspected of child grooming, then an investigation will generally be carried out and the police will pass on the evidence they have to the Crown Prosecution Service, who will assess it to see whether it is possible to bring grooming charges.
What is Section 15 Sexual Offences Act 2003?
Section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 provides that a person aged 18 or over commits an offence if they have met or communicated with a child aged 16 or under on one or more occasions and subsequently intentionally met with them, travelled with the intention of meeting them, arranged to meet them or the child travels to meet the person aged 18 or over. The alleged offender must have the intention of doing something which constitutes a sexual offence.
Under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, it is an offence to arrange a meeting with a child under 16 for oneself or for someone else with the intent of a sexual offence taking place.
What is sexual communication with a child Section 15A
Section 15A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 states that it is an offence for someone aged 18 or over to intentionally engage in sexual communication with a child.
This is defined as communication for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification. The communication will be sexual or be intended to encourage the child to make a communication to someone that is sexual.
Communication involves a wide range of contact methods including emails, online communication such as that in chatrooms or on social media, meetings and telephone conversations.
How is grooming proved?
The alleged offender’s intention will generally be inferred from the content of communications but can also be inferred from what they take with them to the meeting.
Using a fake identity and spending time where children are present online could constitute grooming. Engaging in sexual communication with someone online when believing them to be under 16 is also an offence. This means that if someone engages in sexual communication with an undercover police officer who is purporting to be a child, they are likely to face charges.
Electronic evidence will be used to show the progress of grooming and the building of trust for the purposes of sexual gratification as well as evidence of meetings or intent to meet or invitations to meet.
What are the laws on grooming in the UK?
The laws on grooming in the UK require a meeting to have taken place or travelling with the intention of meeting, and with the intention of something of a sexual nature taking place.
There is also an offence of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The legislation for all offences is set out in the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Can you be prosecuted for grooming?
You can be prosecuted for grooming, for sexual communication for a child and for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
What is the penalty for grooming in the UK?
The maximum sentence for meeting a child following sexual grooming is ten years in custody.
The offence of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity carries a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment, which is the same as that for sexual activity with a child.
The maximum sentence for sexual communication with a child is two years’ imprisonment.
In deciding what sentence to impose if someone has been found guilty, grooming sentencing guidelines require the court to take into account the level of harm caused and the level of culpability of the offender.
Conviction for any of the above offences will also mean the offender’s name will be automatically added to the sex offenders’ register.
How our child grooming solicitors can help
Police interview advice and bail applications
You are strongly advised to speak to an expert child grooming solicitor if you are asked to attend a police interview under caution. Our sexual offence lawyers can provide the support and guidance you need. We will also ensure that the police observe the correct procedure and that you do not inadvertently harm your defence.
Where necessary, we can also make an application for bail on your behalf. This is usually granted, and will generally have conditions attached.
Advice on the strength of your case and the available options
We will request disclosure of all of the evidence against you and give you an honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your case. We can discuss the right strategy and go through the options open to you.
Where there is little credible evidence in the case against you or the police or prosecution have failed to observe your rights or made procedural mistakes or errors in the handling of the evidence, we can request that charges are dropped.
Putting together a robust defence and preparing for court
We will obtain all available evidence and work to put together the strongest possible defence on your behalf. If your case goes to court, we will ensure that you have extensive preparation and support. You will be represented by an expert barrister throughout.
For more information on our services, see our Sexual Offences Solicitors page.
Contact our child grooming solicitors
If you are facing child grooming allegations or charges or accusations of molesting a child, you should speak to an expert child grooming solicitor immediately. It is important to have legal advice and guidance before you are interviewed by police to ensure that your position is safeguarded.
Our team have many years of experience in defending allegations of child grooming offences and an excellent track record in providing the strongest possible defence.
Call on 020 8309 5010 | Ask us a Question | Email us