Sexual Offences

What this page covers

This unit collects material on sexual offences in criminal law. Much of it centers on the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The mind map titled Sexual Offences Act 2003 sets out the offences in order: rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault by touching, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and offences involving children. Other maps cover the older law, including the Sexual Offences Act 1956, and the reasons the law needed reform.

Where to start

Begin with a mind map to see the whole structure. Then move to flashcards to fix the definitions.

1. Open the Sexual Offences Act 2003 mind map for the list of offences.
2. Read the mind map on section 1, which breaks rape into its actus reus and the lack of consent.
3. Work through the flashcard deck that defines sexual and consent, and asks what section 1 makes an offence.
4. Move to the deck on actus reus, mens rea, mistaken belief and evidential presumptions about consent.

Using quizzes and maps together

There is a small set of quizzes. The quiz called Sexual Acts works through the offences listed in the Sexual Offences Act 1956, which is useful for comparing older and current law. Take a quiz first, note what you got wrong, then go back to the matching mind map and rewrite that branch in your own words. Finish with the flashcards on that branch.

Cases and comparison

Some resources look at decided cases. There are maps on R v Tabassum, and a comparison of R v Ewanchuk and R v Hutchinson that focuses on consent and social issues. A flashcard deck on rape describes a defendant who argued that he reasonably believed the complainant was consenting. These help you practice applying the rules to facts, not just recalling them. A resource mentions A-level Law, so a few items may suit school students, though most are aimed at university and professional study.

Where this unit sits

This unit belongs to the strand Offences Against the Person within Criminal law, in the Law area. Pick one mind map today, then test yourself on the flashcards that follow.