Sexual Activity with a Child Sentence
Nottingham solicitor advocate Phil Plant recently dealt with a serious case involving sexual activity with a child that required a sensitive presentation of mitigation to secure a just sentence for his client. The preparation undertaken by senior crown court litigator Sarah Lees-Collier, including the request for a psychologist report, assisted greatly.
Sexual Activity with a Child
Phil’s female client had pleaded guilty to four offences of sexual activity with a child. She had had a relationship with a teenage boy involving sexual contact.
The relationship had come to the attention of the boy’s mother. She had contacted Phil’s client and told her of her son’s age. She was instructed to end the relationship. This advice was ignored and the relationship continued and moved to a sexual phase.
The boy had provided the police with a detailed victim impact statement describing how he felt that he had been made to grow up too fast.
Our Client was Vulnerable
In turn, Phil’s client presented as very vulnerable. She suffered from learning impairment and a lack of social awareness. She had suffered bullying at school and that had led to difficulties for her in forming peer to peer relationships.
In the view of her parents, and confirmed by a psychologist, she was less emotionally mature than her 15 year old sister. In addition she had been diagnosed with epilepsy that on occasions left her with slurred speech.
Suspended Sentence Imposed
Phil had to approach the case with sensitivity. The judge accepted that the offending fell within a sentencing bracket that had a starting point of 12 months for at least two of the offences. The judge as persuaded, however, that taking into account all the personal mitigation a 16 month prison sentence could properly be suspended for 24 months.
Contact Us
If you face a serious case such as sexual activity with a child then you will need your case preparing and presenting by experienced lawyers with a view to securing the best outcome for you. If you wish to contact Phil or Sarah then please telephone them on 0115 9599550 or email them here.
