STOCKPORT | GREATER MANCHESTER | CHESHIRE
Sexual Offence Solicitors
Not only your reputation but also your liberty may be at stake! You should not face prosecution for an offence of this type without legal representation. Call us for immediate advice by telephone on 0161 477 1121.
Our Award-Winning Solicitors.
Our Solicitors can provide representation during all stages of investigation and proceedings.
When dealing with Morton’s Solicitors you should know you are dealing with not only a friendly, professional team, but also an award-winning team.
Earlier this year, Mortons Solicitors won the Crime Team of the Year 2018 at the Manchester Legal Awards.
This is a reflection of the tireless work our team provides for our clients – as well as reflection of the results we achieve.
Specialties
Common Sexual Offences
These include very recent allegations, but since the Savile inquiry and Operation YewTree many more historic allegations are coming to light.
Most sexual offences upon conviction have a requirement that you sign on the Sex Offenders Register and the court could make a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). This could have very serious and long lasting ramifications.
If you are facing such allegations, we want to hear from you on 0161 477 1121
What Constitutes A Sexual Offence?
Something is ‘sexual’ if the reasonable, average normal person would consider it so.
The issue of consent is a complex one. There are circumstances when the court will presume that consent did not exist (such as rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault). Such circumstances are:
• if violence has been used against the victim or another person,
• if the victim has been held captive,
• if the victim was unconscious,
• if the victim was physically disabled,
• if the victim was under the influence of a substance that overpowered them.
Someone is said to have consented if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.
Drunken consent can still be consent. However it should be noted that consumption of a large quantity of alcohol could lead to a presumption that the person was incapable of informed consent.
If consent did not in fact exist there may still be a defence of having a “reasonable belief” in consent. This means that someone must honestly believe that consent exists and this belief must be one that a normal person on the street would hold.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTs!
Have You Been Invited To Attend An Interview?
You are not obliged to say anything to the police and we advise all clients to maintain their right to silence until they speak with us.
A case can proceed solely on admissions made to the police without the need for witnesses to ever attend court.
You are entitled to have a solicitor present free of charge at any police interview. This is true for what may seem to be the most trivial offences, e.g. a minor sexual touching such as a kiss. You should never be interviewed without legal representation.
Call us on 0161 477 1121 to speak to our expert legal team.
Defending an Allegation
Successfully defending an allegation of a sexual offence involves:-
• Expert cross examination of the alleged victim and any other prosecution witnesses,
• Detailed expert analysis of the evidence
• Detailed expert analysis of the unused prosecution material
• Third party requests for disclosure e.g. such as obtaining the victims social services records or medical records
• The use of specialist forensic scientists, e. g. medical experts who specialise in causation of injuries, psychiatry, psychology
• Site visits
• Preparing defence witness statements
Was the offence allegedly committed a domestic incident? The definition of what counts as “domestic” is far reaching. It also has certain consequences, most significantly:-
• The case will be treated more seriously by the court
• You could be restricted from living at, or attending the family home (by virtue of strict bail conditions)
• You could be restricted from having contact with your partner and/or unsupervised contact with your children
• The case will be highly likely to proceed, despite the wishes of the victim
Contact Us
20-22 Middle Hillgate, Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK1 3AY
Tel: 0161 477 1121
Email: [email protected]
Secure Email: [email protected] (secure email/CJSM users only)
