Charged With Historic Prostitution Offences?
Call Us Now on 01623 600645
Tracy Johnson of Forrest Williams
Historic Prostitution Offences
This information should be read together with our overview on historic sexual offences.
These offences include:
- Men soliciting
- Women controlling prostitutes
- Procuring women to become prostitutes
- Procuring a girl under 21 to have sexual intercourse
- Encouraging indecent assault on a girl under 16
- Encouraging prostitution of a defective
- Detaining a woman in a brothel or other premises
- Permitting premises to be used for intercourse by a girl under 13
- Permitting premises to be used for intercourse by a girl aged between 13 and 16
- Permitting premises to be used for intercourse by a defective
- Brothels
- Living on earnings from female prostitution
- Living on earnings from male prostitution
An offence has been committed if the defendant persistently solicited in a public place for immoral purposes. The defendant must be a man. A boy can be charged with this offence but it is unlikely for him to be charged with incidents of this offence committed when he was under 16.
‘Immoral purposes’ refers to sexual activity, whether heterosexual or homosexual.
The maximum sentence for this offence is two years’ imprisonment.
An offence has been committed if a female defendant controlled, directed or influenced a prostitute in a way that shows she is aiding, abetting or compelling her prostitution.
The defendant must know that the other party is a prostitute and the act of control should be deliberate.
The maximum sentence for this offence is seven years’ imprisonment.
Procuring Women To Become Prostitutes
An offence has been committed if a male or female defendant procured a woman to become a prostitute.
The maximum sentence for this offence is two years’ imprisonment.
Procuring A Girl Under 21 To Have Sexual Intercourse
An offence has been committed if a girl under 21 was procured by the defendant to have sexual intercourse with another person. The offence can be committed by a man or woman.
The maximum sentence for this offence is two years’ imprisonment.
Encouraging Indecent Assault On A Girl Under 16
An offence has been committed if the defendant caused or encouraged the prostitution of, or the commission of unlawful sexual intercourse with or of an indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 for whom he is responsible.
The defendant can be a man or a woman.
Sexual intercourse in this context is vaginal.
The maximum sentence for this offence is two years’ imprisonment.
Mentally Disordered Prostitutes: Encouraging Prostitution Of A Defective
An offence has been committed if a defendant has caused or encouraged the prostitution of a woman defective. If the defendant did not know or have reason to believe that the woman was a defective, this is a defence.
The offence can be committed by a man or woman.
If it is shown that the defendant did encourage the defective woman, there must be an intention to encourage as well. For example, a doctor giving contraceptive advice to a defective is not causing or encouraging sexual intercourse.
The maximum sentence for this offence is two years’ imprisonment.
Detaining A Woman In A Brothel or Other Premises
An offence has been committed if a defendant detained a woman against her will in a brothel, intending her to have sexual intercourse with men. The intercourse should be consensual or the appropriate charge would be false imprisonment and rape.
The offence can be committed by a man or woman against a woman.
If you are facing this charge, it is important that the circumstances are examined before plea is decided. In particular, ‘brothel’ has a specific legal definition that must be satisfied before a guilty plea is entered.
The maximum sentence for this offence is two years’ imprisonment.
Permitting Premises To Be Used For Intercourse By A Girl Under 13
An offence has been committed if a defendant permitted or managed premises to be used for a girl under 13 to have unlawful sexual intercourse.
The defendant can be male or female and can be the owner, occupier, manager or otherwise in control of the premises.
Defences include a lack of knowledge as to the girl’s age and lack of knowledge as to the use of the premises for sexual intercourse.
The maximum sentence for this offence is life imprisonment.
Permitting Premises To Be Used For Intercourse By A Girl Aged Between 13 and 16
An offence has been committed if a defendant permitted or managed premises to be used for a girl aged between 13 and 16 to have unlawful sexual intercourse.
The defendant can be male or female and can be the owner, occupier, manager or otherwise in control of the premises.
Defences include a lack of knowledge as to the girl’s age and lack of knowledge as to the use of the premises for sexual intercourse.
The charging of this offence is affected by time bars in relation to offences of sexual intercourse with a girl under 16, so the legality of any charge made against you should be thoroughly reviewed.
The maximum sentence for this offence is two years’ imprisonment.
Permitting Premises To Be Used For Intercourse By A Defective
An offence has been committed if a defendant permitted or managed premises to be used for a woman who is a defective to have unlawful sexual intercourse.
The defendant can be male or female and can be the owner, occupier, manager or otherwise in control of the premises.
Unlawful in this regard means illicit or outside marriage. It does not mean without consent.
Defences include a lack of knowledge as to the complainant being a defective, and lack of knowledge as to the use of the premises for sexual intercourse.
The maximum sentence for this offence is two years’ imprisonment.
Living on Earnings From Female Prostitution
An offence has been committed if a male defendant, in a relationship with a prostitute, is knowingly living on earnings from prostitution.
This offence can be committed in several ways and so specialist advice should be sought before plea is entered.
The maximum sentence for this offence is seven years’ imprisonment.
Living on Earnings From Male Prostitution
An offence has been committed if a male or female defendant, in a relationship with a prostitute, is knowingly living on earnings from prostitution. The defendant must intentionally control the prostitute for their own gain.
Gain can be in money or in kind.
The maximum sentence for this offence is seven years’ imprisonment.
Charged with Historic Prostitution Offences?
Call Us Now on 01623 600645.