Much has been written about the 35 year sentence for Ian Watkins. The sentencing remarks are here and make for gruesome reading. For a detailed recitation of the sentencing law in this context we recommend Lyndon Harris at UK Criminal Law Blog. However, it is also interesting to look at the law in relation to … Continue reading
The law and procedure relating to sexual offences is notoriously complex. Since the advent of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the law (both as to the offences and as to sentencing) changes depending on when the offence was committed, the age of the parties involved and the nature of the act committed. This up-to-date guide … Continue reading
The new Sentencing Council Guidelines on sexual offences have been published[1]. They will be in force from 1 April 2014. The existing guidelines do not apply in relation to offences under the 1956 Act. However, in the new document, the maximum penalties are set out in Annex C and the approach to sentencing historic sexual offences … Continue reading
In November 2013 Ian Watkins, lead singer of The Lost Prophets pleaded guilty to to attempting to rape the 11-month-old baby of a fan ‘Woman A’ and conspiring to rape the baby daughter of another fan ‘Woman B’. News reports indicate that prosecution footage showed him committing the act and a charge of rape was … Continue reading
Ian Watkins, former singer in the Lostprophets, yesterday pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 (but not guilty to rape) and he “also admitted three counts of sexual assault involving children and six involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme … Continue reading
This week, the NSPCC issued sensible advice to parents about sexting referring to it being “increasingly common”. It sounded so old fashioned. Teenage boys have been sending images of their knob by mobile phone since those contraptions were bigger than their member. Frankly, semi-nude pics of young people are sent via the net in the millions … Continue reading
Overview On 17 October 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service (“CPS”) published new guidance on the prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. The DPP said it marks “the biggest shift in attitudes in a generation” in terms of the prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. He also said that it demonstrates that the CPS – and … Continue reading
Barrister Robert Colover has found himself the focus of media ire for his description of a 13 year old girl during a sentencing hearing in which he prosecuted. The NSPCC joined in the condemnation describing his language as representing “a wider pattern about how child sexual abuse cases are taken and treated in our courts”. … Continue reading
Sexual relationships between teachers and pupils aged 16 and over have been happening for a long time. Similarly, for a long time, there has been a feeling that, once at the age of consent, a sexual relationship between consenting adults – irrespective of the student/teacher relationship – is not one into which the law should … Continue reading
People have been lying to other people to get them into bed for as long as there have been beds. This and other deceptions or false promises can cause problems for the courts where the allegation is of a non-consensual sexual offence. Courts have spent the years since the passing of the Sexual Offences Act … Continue reading
