A sentence of two years’ detention was not appropriate in the case of a 14-year-old boy who had committed sexual offences against his eight-year-old cousin; the evidence showed that he did not pose a real risk to others and a custodial sentence would not be in the interests of his welfare. A supervision order for a term of three years was imposed instead.
14-YEAR-OLD CONVICTED OF SEXUAL OFFENCES COMMITTED AGAINST YOUNG COUSIN APPROPRIATENESS OF SENTENCE OF DETENTION CHILD SEX OFFENCES CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT 1933 s.44(1) CHILDREN’S WELFARE CRIME AND DISORDER ACT 1998 s.37(1) CUSTODIAL SENTENCES DETENTION PREVENTIVE JUSTICE RAPE s.37 s.44 SENTENCING SUPERVISION ORDERS YOUNG OFFENDERS
It was impermissible for the Crown to prosecute a charge of indecent assault under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 s.14(1) in circumstances where the conduct upon which that charge was based was only an act of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 16 in respect of which no prosecution could be commenced under s.6(1) of the Act by virtue of s.37(2) of, and Sch.2 to, that Act.
ABUSE OF PROCESS ALTERNATIVE PROSECUTION FOR INDECENT ASSAULT IMPERMISSIBLE AVOIDANCE OF STATUTORY TIME BAR FOR PROSECUTION OF OFFENCE CHILD SEX OFFENCES CHILDREN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CROWN PROSECUTION DELAYED COMPLAINTS INDECENT ASSAULT LIMITATION PERIODS LIMITATIONS MINORS POLICIES PROSECUTION OF DIFFERENT CHARGE IN RELIANCE ON SAME CRIMINAL CONDUCT PROSECUTIONS s.10 s.14 S.14(1) SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1956 s.37 S.37 SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1956 s.37(1) s.37(1)(2) s.37(2) s.4 s.44 s.5 s.5(1) s.6 s.6(1) S.6(1) SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1956 s.7 Sch.2 para.10(a) SCH.2 SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1956 SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH CHILDREN SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH GIRL UNDER 16 SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1956 s.14(1) TIME BARS TIME LIMIT FOR CHARGE OF UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE EXPIRED ULTRA VIRES