Sexual Offences

Chambers has considerable expertise in both prosecuting and defending in serious sex cases. Many members of chambers appear on the Crown Prosecution Service specialist rape list, and undertake both prosecution and defence work in sexual offence cases, including:

Members have undertaken all manner of sexual offence cases, including serial stranger-rapes, multi-handed rapes and/or sexual torture, historic sexual abuse cases, abuse by paedophile rings, abuse, alleged or otherwise, by those in a position of trust, e.g. teachers, club leaders and care workers, and allegations against medical professionals arising from intimate contact.

 

Members have huge experience of child abuse cases. These frequently demand the sensitive management of vulnerable witnesses and defendants with their own medical and behavioural problems and, very often, examination by way of video-link. Other complainants have had disabilities, such as deafness or muteness, which have led to particular approaches during the giving of evidence. Chambers is well-known for providing advice to prosecution bodies during the preparatory stages of cases involving vulnerable and special needs complainants. Several members are experienced in, or have been trained in, the use of intermediaries.

 

It is increasingly common for sexual offence and rape trials to be brought many years after the events in question. There are particular difficulties of evidence and the risk of abuse of process, with which members of chambers are entirely familiar. Members have also had to pursue long and complex arguments concerning the admissibility of recorded interviews and bad character evidence (whether concerning the defendant or the complainant).

 

Specialist DNA and other forensic science matters frequently play a significant part in sexual offence cases. Members of 18 Red Lion Court have a thorough understanding of all aspects of this highly technical area.

 

Other matters arising from sexual offence criminality, and in which members of chambers are experienced, include:

Members of chambers often bring their organised crime expertise to bear in matters concerning the prostitution and trafficking of people for sexual purposes. Related to obscenity work, some members are expert in aspects of licensing law concerning places of public entertainment and sex establishments.

 

Member of chambers, Stephanie Farrimond, was part of a team of specialist rape prosecutors and police sent to Sierra Leone in 2008 on behalf of the International Rescue Committee, in association with Dept for International Development, the UN and the Criminal Bar Association, to train prosecutors and judges in the prosecution of serious sexual offences.