"statutory rape" and sexual assault are legal terms used in USA and the UK
The UK has an age of consent (16, unless there's a duty of care involved, when it's 18). It does not have, and I think has never had, an offence called "statutory rape".
From 2003:
Being sexual with someone under the age of consent is "Sexual activity with a child" if they're 13-15, or "Sexual assault of a child under 13".
"Sexual assault" is part of the same law. There is no need for violence:
"A person (A) commits an offence if —
(a) he intentionally touches another person (B),
(b) the touching is sexual,
(c) B does not consent to the touching, and
(d) A does not reasonably believe that B consents."
Before 2003:
It was "Intercourse with girl between thirteen and sixteen" or "Intercourse with girl under thirteen." For other acts, it was "indecent assault".
Interestingly, no actual touching was required: an unwanted sexual proposal could be "indecent assault" as well as what you'd expect.
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Re: 20 years late ?
Date: 2019-09-22 10:57 pm (UTC)The UK has an age of consent (16, unless there's a duty of care involved, when it's 18). It does not have, and I think has never had, an offence called "statutory rape".
From 2003:
Being sexual with someone under the age of consent is "Sexual activity with a child" if they're 13-15, or "Sexual assault of a child under 13".
"Sexual assault" is part of the same law. There is no need for violence:
"A person (A) commits an offence if —
(a) he intentionally touches another person (B),
(b) the touching is sexual,
(c) B does not consent to the touching, and
(d) A does not reasonably believe that B consents."
Before 2003:
It was "Intercourse with girl between thirteen and sixteen" or "Intercourse with girl under thirteen." For other acts, it was "indecent assault".
Interestingly, no actual touching was required: an unwanted sexual proposal could be "indecent assault" as well as what you'd expect.