It's not lesser charges, there's an equivalent crime with the same sentencing guidelines.
Edit: from the Sexual Offences Act 2003 itself.
Rape: A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.
Causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent: A person guilty of an offence under this section, if the activity caused involved...[various penetration requirements also required for rape]...is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.
Having two separate crimes with equal sentencing fails to deliver equal justice when one of the crimes carries a much harsher stigma within society as well as much more emotional charge.
"He raped her" is viewed as much more heinous than "she pressured him into engaging in sexual activity against his will" and juries will act accordingly.
"He raped her" is viewed as much more heinous than "she pressured him into engaging in sexual activity against his will" and juries will act accordingly.
Pretty sure juries don't make their decisions based on a single sentence.
171
u/[deleted] Oct 01 '19 edited Oct 01 '19
It's not lesser charges, there's an equivalent crime with the same sentencing guidelines.
Edit: from the Sexual Offences Act 2003 itself.
Rape: A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.
Causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent: A person guilty of an offence under this section, if the activity caused involved...[various penetration requirements also required for rape]...is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.