Child Grooming Offences: Criminal Representation when accused Sexually Grooming a minor
At Draycott Browne, we understand that being arrested for allegations of child grooming are extremely distressing and traumatic and that you will need the help and support of an expert team of sexual offence solicitors to ensure first-class legal representation from the start.
If you or someone you know finds themselves in this situation, contact our specialist legal advisers on +44 (0)161 228 2244 so that we can begin to protect your rights and build a robust and effective defence for you as soon as possible.
What is child grooming?
If an adult or group of adults meets or communicates with a child under the age of 16 online or by phone, via calls or text messages, they can be accused of child grooming even if the content of the communication was not sexual.
Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, it is an offence to arrange a meeting with a child under 16 for you or someone else with the intent of engaging in sexual activity with the child. According to the Act a person commits an offence if:
- They intentionally arrange or facilitate something that they intend to do, intend another person to do, or believe that another person will do, in any part of the world and,
- Arranging the meeting will involve the commission of an offence including sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, or causing a child to watch a sexual act.
What are the penalties?
The offence of child grooming carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
There is often significant interest from the local and national media in these investigations, which can place the defendant under immense pressure and stress and do irreparable damage to a person’s reputation, relationships and career.
Anyone convicted of a child grooming offence will also be subject to inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register and will be required to notify the police of certain personal details either for a stated period of time or for life, depending on the sentence handed down.
The Risk of Sexual Harm Order may also be imposed on someone convicted of grooming offences, to prohibit adults from engaging in inappropriate behaviour including sexual conversations with children online. Breaching such an order is a separate offence that carries a custodial sentence of up to five years.
How we can help
It is of the utmost importance that you seek the legal services of solicitors with the necessary expertise and experience, to robustly challenge any evidence against you and build a compelling and effective defence to secure you the best possible outcome. Draycott Browne can provide you with just that and will deliver the quality representation that you should expect from your legal team.
We have a proven track record of successfully defending cases of child grooming and will deal with your case sensitively and discreetly.
We will provide you with clear, in-depth advice from the outset, liaise with the police and accompany you to interviews. We will submit bail applications and work to reduce the impact of any bail conditions. We will carry out a thorough and meticulous review of all the evidence against you and will use all resources available to us to prepare a robust and proactive response. We take pride in our dedication and commitment to securing the right result for all of our clients and will pursue this with a diligence and tenacity that is second to none.
We have a reputation for achieving excellent results and consistently work to the highest standards to ensure the best possible outcome in all cases.
24 Hour Availability
Arrests are rarely anticipated, which is why we are available around the clock, seven days a week, 365 days of the year, to assist you at the police station, whenever you need us. Our legal experts are only a phone call away to provide immediate, professional advice.
Legal Aid
Legal fees can be an unexpected cost that you many struggle to afford. By applying for legal aid, you can relieve financial stress during your case, leaving you to focus on what matters. Our solicitors can advise you on your eligibility and will guide you through the application process, to give you the best chance of success.
CONTACT Draycott Browne Solicitors
When faced with the accusation of grooming a child or children for sex, it is imperative that you seek the best legal advice and representation available to you.
Contact our expert solicitors in Manchester today by calling 0161 228 2244. If you would like us to contact you, simply fill in our online enquiry form and a member of the team will be in touch as soon as possible.
The Sexual Offence Solicitors at Draycott Browne are highly regarded, nationally across the legal spectrum and are noted for our consistency in delivering positive results. Our solicitors possess a breadth of technical knowledge and know-how to help build a defence across all Sexual Offences, providing you with the expertise required when facing such sensitive allegations and investigation by the police.
We regularly act for clients in London and throughout the North West including Manchester and Liverpool regarding Sexual Offences and accusations of child grooming, when expert legal representation and advocacy is needed.
By entrusting your case to us, you can be assured that you will be working with a team of highly skilled and experienced sexual offence solicitors who have a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the law.
Our legal team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, when freedom is at stake, If you or somebody you know has been arrested and needs expert legal representation, call Draycott Browne today on +44 (0)161 228 2244 or complete our contact form, for the very best criminal defence for allegations of sexual offence.