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Sexual Offences Solicitors

You will be well aware of how much a sexual offence allegation such as rape or sexual assault can damage your life. Having the right solicitor on your side will ensure your side of the story is put forward, giving you the best chances of avoiding serious criminal penalties.

Being convicted of a sex offence is extremely serious. Conviction could result in a long prison sentence, you will receive a criminal record and you will likely be subject to notification requirements (commonly referred to as being put on the sex offenders’ register). A conviction could also prevent you from working in certain professions ever again.

If you have been accused of a sexual offence, you will likely be worried about the impact on your job, your family, your friends, and your personal and professional reputation. But, turning to us for advice as early on as you can is the best step you can take.

With 200 years of experience behind us, we are one of the oldest and most experienced teams of criminal defence solicitors in the North West of England.

We are ranked in the top 10 of criminal defence firms in the country based on client feedback at Review Solicitors.

We will make it our mission to help you reduce the impact of the sexual offence accusation on your life. Many of our clients are even able to avoid criminal charges altogether, allowing them to move on with their life with their reputation intact.

Our team can handle all types of sexual offence investigations and prosecutions, from cases of sexual assault and harassment to the most serious offences of rape and offences involving children.

Get in touch with our sexual offences solicitors

If you or someone you know needs fast, expert criminal law advice and defence at the police station, during investigation or at court, get in touch with our sexual offence defence solicitors in in Liverpool, Runcorn or Warrington.

For urgent out of hours matters call FREEPHONE 0808 196 1790

Call 03444 124348 | Ask us a Question

We regularly travel across the country to assist people at the police station or at court. Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Our police station representation service is free of charge. It is your legal right to have representation at the police station.

We highly recommend that you do not answer the police’s questions about an alleged offence until we are by your side to advise you. Anything you say during a police interview could be used in a decision to charge you or as evidence in court.

This includes if you have been invited for a voluntary interview under caution – these interviews are not casual chats. Instead, ask to call Bell Lamb & Joynson as soon as possible.

How our sexual offence defence solicitors can help you

We understand just how distressing going through criminal proceedings for a sexual offence can be, especially if there is not an ounce of truth behind the allegations.

We can defend you against all types of sexual offence allegations, including:

Rape
Sexual assault
Child sexual abuse
Possession of indecent images
Grooming
Abuse of a position of trust
Outraging public decency
Administering a substance intending to commit a sexual offence
Prostitution offences
Pornography offences
Historic sexual offences

Why choose our sexual offence lawyers?

As one of the top Criminal Law teams in the country according to client reviews and case volume, you can trust us to give you the best possible chance of a positive outcome.

Visit our Criminal Law Solicitors page for more information about our reviews, skills and accreditations.

Sexual offence FAQs

What should you do if you are accused of a sexual offence?

As you will know, being accused of a sexual offence is extremely serious. Even if there is no truth behind the allegations, having the weight of a police investigation and possible prosecutions hanging over your head can negatively impact your life.

The first thing you should do is contact a specialist criminal defence solicitor for advice. You should not contact or communicate with the person who is accusing you, even if they try to get in touch with you.

However, make sure you preserve any call logs, texts, emails or letters. We can examine all the evidence for you and help you build the strongest possible defence strategy.

Do you still need a solicitor if you have been falsely accused of a sexual offence?

Yes. It is a common myth that having a solicitor with you at the police station or during criminal investigation implies guilt. In fact, sexual offences are complicated, so not having a solicitor is actually more likely to hinder your case, even if you have been falsely accused.

Solicitors are often able to access the police’s information and find out more about the allegations before you are questioned. If you are unrepresented, the first time you are likely to hear about the allegations is during the police interview, leaving you vulnerable and unprepared.

Remember, anything you say or do during a police interview can be used as evidence against you and having legal representation during these interviews is always free, so there is no downside to having a solicitor.

Can the police seize your mobile phone/computer?

The police can and usually will seize devices if they believe they are relevant to the investigation. For example, they may seek to access photographs, texts, emails, social media accounts or call logs for evidence. The police are allowed to keep your property for as long as it is needed.

Even though the police have this power, they must still follow the proper procedures. If they breach the law or your legal rights, they may not be allowed to rely on the evidence they obtained.

We will make sure that your legal rights are protected at all times and take all possible steps to challenge any evidence as well as the processes used to obtain it.

What are the penalties for being convicted of a sexual offence?

If you are convicted of a sexual offence, penalties could include a fine, a community order, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and up to life imprisonment for the most serious cases.

You will also likely be subject to sex offence notification requirements (more commonly known as being put on the sex offenders’ register) and will be unable to work in certain professions, such as work with vulnerable adults and children.

What is a Sexual Harm Prevention Order?

Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs) – previously known as Sexual Offence Prevention Orders – are court orders that can be requested by the police or court to stop a person from engaging in particular activities.

For example, if you are convicted of a sexual offence, the court may make a SHPO to prevent you from doing things like visiting certain places or accessing the internet without being monitored.

Get in touch with our sexual offence solicitors

For urgent out of hours matters call FREEPHONE 0808 196 1790

Call 03444 124348 | Ask us a Question

We regularly travel across the country to assist people at the police station or at court. Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.