Indecent Assault is now a historic offence under the Sexual Offences Act 1956. This offence was replaced by the charge of Sexual Assault under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

This means that while the offence is no longer prosecuted for incidents occurring after May 2004, it may still be relevant for historical allegations.

If you are facing an allegation of Indecent Assault relating to an event that occurred before 2004, or if you have been wrongly advised on the modern offence, you need expert legal help.

DPP Law can come to your assistance if you have been accused of any form of Indecent Assault. Our experienced team will work closely with you to build your defence, re-examine evidence and witness testimony, and strive to ensure that the law is correctly upheld on your behalf.

What was Indecent Assault?

Indecent assault was generally defined as “unwanted sexual contact” but did not extend to rape. Anything physical that could be construed in a sexual way and has been undertaken without the victim’s consent could be considered indecent assault.

To accuse you of indecent assault, an alleged victim may claim that you:

• Kissed them without consent
• Touched or manhandled a part of their body in a sexual manner without consent
• Interacted with them physically in any other way to which they did not consent
• Assaulted them by penetration with a foreign object

Sentence for Indecent Assault (Historical)

The maximum indecent assault sentence was ten years in prison, although if the assault was against a victim under 13 then this increased to fourteen years custody. Assault by penetration was potentially punishable by a life sentence.

Defending Historic Allegations

If you have been accused of indecent assault and are able to provide evidence (either through audio or video recordings including CCTV footage, saved text messages, emails or any other means) that your accuser did in fact consent to your actions, or that the actions never truly occurred, your defence is likely to be strong.

Important Note on Modern Law

For any incident occurring after May 2004, the correct and current charge is Sexual Assault.

For comprehensive information on what is defined as Sexual Assault, the penalties associated with the offence and possible defences please visit our dedicated page.

Why Choose DPP Law?

When you choose DPP Law for legal assistance and representation, you will be assured:

• Guaranteed confidentiality at all times
• A comprehensive check of forensics and evidence records
• Sensitive expert advice – first consultation FREE

A knowledgeable and experienced sexual offences defence solicitor will endeavour to see you completely absolved of any allegations if you’ve been accused of indecent assault. Get in touch with DPP Law’s team of legal experts today to discuss your case.