The Law - Girls
A girl must be sixteen or over before it is legal for her to have sex. Her partner is breaking the law if she has sex before this.
The Law - Boys
It is an offence for a male, aged 14 or over to have sex with a girl under 16, even if she consents.
The Law
It is an absolute offence (statutory rape) if a male aged 14 or over has sex with a girl under 13. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment, because the law assumes that a girl under 13 does not understand the consequences of having sex.
The Law
A man who has sex with a girl aged 13 to 15 years can be given a 2 year prison sentence. If he is under 24 years, has never been charged with the same offence before and can prove that he genuinely believed the girl was over 16, he may be found not guilty. If he is over 24, he has no defence and will be found guilty.
The Law - Under 16s
A boy of 10 or over can be prosecuted for having sex with a girl under 13. It is no defence to say she agreed or wanted to do it.
The Law - Boys under 16
A woman who has sex with a boy under 16 could theoretically be charged with indecent assault.
The Law - Gay Men
The age of consent for gay relationships is now 16 years. Sexual contact between men is allowed if both are over 16, consent, and sex takes place in private.
The Law - Lesbians
There is nothing in the law about lesbians, other than that a girl must be 16 before she can legally have sex.
|
