A sexual assault can take many forms, but is any type of sexual contact or behaviour that occurs without the consent of the recipient. This can include any unwanted sexual activity as fondling, kissing, masturbation, and digital or penile penetration or uninvited sexual touching, even through clothes. It can be an attack or it can be more subtle. It can occur between adult and child as well as between adults.
According to an official report* released in 2013, approximately 12,000 men and 85,000 women are raped in England and Wales every year. Of those, 1 in 5 women aged between 16 – 59 have experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16. Only around 15% of victims of sexual violence choose to report their abuse to the police, and approximately 90% of those who are raped know the perpetrator prior to the offence.
* An Overview of Sexual Offending in England and Wales, a joint official statistics bulletin on sexual violence released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Home Office in January 2013.
Sexual assaults can happen in the context of:
Sexual assaults are criminal offences and are also actionable in the civil courts, following which compensation could be recoverable.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted it is important that you report the matter to the police as soon as possible. The police will take investigations into sexual assault very seriously, using specialist officers. We can support you making first contact with the police if you wish, and signpost you to appropriate support services while any police investigation is ongoing.
Our specialist team can advise you and provide you with a clear way forward, representing you in your legal claim, and advocating on your behalf. We have considerable experience in helping those who have been sexually assaulted launch and win compensation .
Contact us.
At a free informal initial consultation, which can be held over the telephone, we will discuss the circumstances surrounding your abuse and answer any questions you may have. We can then advise you as to whether, in our opinion, we believe you have a claim with reasonable prospects of success.
[fa icon="phone"] 01234 360140
[fa icon="envelope"] enquiries@emmottsnell.co.uk
[fa icon="home"] 42 Harpur Street, Bedford, MK40 2QT, United Kingdom