Offences Committed On Those With Mental Disorders
Protecting Your Rights and Reputation
At KANGS, we understand the devastating impact that false accusations of sexual offences can have on your life, particularly when these allegations involve individuals with mental disorders. Our experienced legal team provides compassionate, strategic defence to ensure your rights and reputation are fiercely protected.
We provide comprehensive representation, from the initial allegation and conducting investigations to working with mental health professionals to understand the complexities of the allegations and challenge unreliable testimonies. Our solicitors take the time to ensure you understand your situation and provide clear, honest advice about your options.
Our solicitors have the experience handling complex cases involving accusations of a sexual nature and have the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate these sensitive situations. This is important because the sections of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 regarding offences against those with mental disorders contain several distinctions crucial to your defence.
The Act draws a distinction between those persons:
- who have a mental disorder impeding choice; persons whose mental functioning is so impaired at the time of the sexual activity that they are unable to make any decision about their involvement in that activity, i.e. they are ‘unable to refuse,’
- who have the capacity to consent to sexual activity but who have a mental disorder that makes them vulnerable to inducement, threat or deception, and
- who have the capacity to consent to sexual activity, but who have a mental disorder and are in a position of dependency upon their carer.
Know Yor Rights
If you are facing sexual offence allegation, it is important you know your rights and what the legal process ahead will be. Contact us for a confidential consultation where our experienced defence solicitors offer expert legal advice and guidance.
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How can KANGS help?
Our team of specialist solicitors provide the following services:
- Initial Consultation and Legal Advice: Confidential consultation to discuss the case details, provide an initial assessment and advise on legal rights and options.
- Police interviews: representation during police interviews, ensuring our client's rights are protected.
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- Representation at a voluntary interview under caution
- Representation at an interview under caution following arrest
- Preparation of pre-charge representations to the CPS or Police
- Representation in Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court proceedings
- Recommendations on selecting a barrister or King's Counsel (KC), as the cross-examination of the complainant and other prosecution witnesses often plays a pivotal role in court proceedings.
Contact KANGS
The expert lawyers at KANGS are available to assist you. We can arrange initial consultations in person, by video call or telephone.
Please contact one of our experts listed below or contact us at:
What Is A Mental Disorder?
The definition of mental disorder is taken from the Mental Health Act 1983 as:
“Mental illness, arrested or incomplete development of mind, psychopathic disorder and any other disorder or disability of mind.”
The Legislation | Sections 30 – 33: Sexual Activity With A Person With A Mental Disorder Impeding Choice
These offences reflect the nature of the sexual activity:
Section 30 – intentional sexual touching.
Section 31 – causing or inciting to engage in sexual activity.
Section 32 – engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder.
Section 33 – causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act.
The Legislation | Sections 34 – 37: Inducements, Threats Or Deceptions To A Person With A Mental Disorder
These sections protect persons with a mental disorder, whose mental impairment is not so severe that they are unable to refuse but who are vulnerable to inducement, threat or deception i.e. the victim purports to agree to the activity, but she/he has a mental disorder, the defendant knows or could reasonably be expected to know that and the agreement to the activity is obtained by the defendant by means of an inducement, threat or deception.
Section 34 – inducement, threat or deception to procure sexual activity.
Section 35 – causing engagement or agreement to engage in sexual activity by inducement, threat or deception.
Section 36 – engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a person with mental disorder procured by inducement, threat or deception.
Section 37 – causing a person with mental disorder to watch a sexual act by inducement, threat or deception.
The Legislation | Sections 38 – 41: Offences By Care Workers Against Persons With A Mental Disorder
These sections protect those who have the capacity to consent, but who, for reasons associated with their mental disorder, agree to sexual activity solely because they are influenced by their familiarity with and/or dependency upon their care worker.
Section 38 – intentional sexual touching.
Section 39 – causing or inciting to engage in sexual activity.
Section 40 – engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder.
Section 41 – causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act.
The Legislation | Section 42: The Relationship of Care
This section defines the relationship of care, e.g. if the victim is accommodated and cared for in a care, community, voluntary or children’s home and the offender performs functions in the home in the course of employment which brings or is likely to bring him or her in face-to-face contact.
This applies to a National Health body, a private agency and to people in their own home.
There is no requirement that the involvement should be by way of paid employment and volunteers are equally liable.
What is the Court Procedure?
Offences under sections 30, 31, 34, and 35
- if the offence involves penetration, the charge is indictable only and will be heard in the Crown Court where the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
- if there is no penetration, the charge can be heard in either the Magistrates’ or the Crown Court with the maximum sentence being is fourteen years imprisonment.
Offences under sections 32, 33, 36 and 37
These offences may be heard either in the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court with the maximum penalty being ten years imprisonment.
Offences under sections 38 and 39
- offences involving penetration are indictable only, heard before a Crown Court and carry a maximum sentence of fourteen years.
- where there is no penetration, the offences may be tried either before a Magistrates’ Court or a Crown Court with a maximum period of imprisonment of ten years.
Offences under sections 40 and 41
These offences may be tried either before a Magistrates’ Court or a Crown Court with a maximum period of imprisonment of seven years.
Who Can I Contact For Advice & Help?
It is imperative that you instruct an experienced solicitor as soon as you are made aware of an allegation being made.
Crucially, it is always important to have a solicitor present in interview at the police station whether it is an interview by appointment or under arrest.
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