ABV SOLICITORS The role of a sexual offence solicitor When someone is wrongly accused of committing a crime, they can find it extremely traumatic, as they are worried about proving their innocence to the police and those around them. This can be especially true when the crime they are being accused of is of a sexual nature, for this reason, they will need to engage the services of a specialist sexual offence solicitor. A sexual offence solicitor is professionally trained to represent people who are accused of crimes such as rape, sexual exploitation, and grooming. Unfortunately, they also understand that this is an area of crime with many wrongful allegations, but they have the skills and knowledge required to get to the truth of any reported allegation and represent it in a court of law. The main role of a sexual offence solicitor is to represent the viewpoint of their client to ensure that their voice is heard in any investigation and court case, they aim to obtain the best possible outcome for their client. This may be to achieve a lesser sentence in cases where the client is either found guilty or chooses to plead guilty. If someone is arrested after an allegation of sexual misconduct it is important that their legal rights are observed, for this reason, they must request the presence of a sexual offence solicitor during an interview with the police. At any interview, the sexual offence solicitor should be allowed to talk with their client privately, as they will need to advise the client about their rights and any matter relating to any crime they are being accused of. The sexual offence solicitor clearly understands their client may be extremely worried about the precarious position of being accused of committing what many consider to be a crime of a heinous nature. One where the perception of having committed the crime may long outlive the allegation, even when the allegation is proven to be untrue. For this reason, it is important for any client to be completely truthful with the sexual offence solicitor representing them, even if this is just to state their guilt, the solicitor needs the truth so they can work towards a possible conclusion. Following the arrest and interview of a client, the sexual offence solicitor will continue to carry on working on behalf of their client. They will seek to stay up to date with the progress of any investigation, as well as examine any evidence and witness statements to get a clear understanding and prepare any defense for their client to be used in any courtroom hearing. TIf any case goes to court the sexual offence solicitor will be allowed to present a case defence for their client and will ensure that the court is allowed to hear the client's point of view and evidence. The solicitor will also be allowed to question any witnesses and any police officers involved; they will also make any closing statements on behalf of their client. Any client must realise that the sexual offence solicitor will be trying to seek the best possible outcome for them, this may lead to a lighter sentence being accepted or a lesser charge being agreed to. References: https://www.abvsolicitors.co.uk/services/sexual-offence-solicitor/ https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/rape-and-sexual-offences-chapter-7-key-legislation-and- offences https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/