Firefighter caught paying young girls to send him naked photographs – The Independent

‘A former firefighter who paid children to send him naked pictures and sent an image of himself wearing his uniform to one victim has been jailed.’

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The Independent, 30th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Sexual Risk Orders: Lowering the Standard – Doughty Street Chambers

‘Sexual Risk Orders (‘SRO’) under section 122A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (‘the 2003 Act’) were introduced in 2015 by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Unlike the similar Sexual Harm Prevention Orders introduced at the same time, SROs may be obtained without a criminal conviction for a sexual offence. Being civil orders obtained in the Magistrates’ Court the applicant authority (a police force or the National Crime Agency) is able to rely on the admissibility of hearsay evidence under the Civil Evidence Act 1995 (‘the 1995 Act’) and the Magistrates’ Courts (Hearsay Evidence in Civil Proceedings) Rules 1999. However, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 significantly altered the process by amending section 122A(6) to state that the court need only be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a defendant has done at least one act of a sexual nature as alleged. Previously, the standard of proof had been held to be the criminal standard, though the statute was silent as to the standard required. This amendment took effect on 29 November 2022 and there has already been a noticeable upsurge in the number of applications for these Draconian orders.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 12th March 2023

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Former football coach jailed for offences against young boys – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A former youth football coach has been jailed for 13-and-a-half years for sexual offences against two young boys. He was also issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.’

Full press release

Crown Prosecution Service, 6th March 2019