Confused
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One of my family members got the knock 4 days ago, arrested for distributing 1 c image and possession 1 C image. Released on bail for 6 months with restrictions of no contact with -18 etc
was taken to the station and questioned which he answered honestly and had solicitor
person saw on social media of others "catfishing" as young to get money so they did the same thing (they didn't receive any money though) was told creating the account wasnt illegal but the image was (it didn't have a face in and was estimated as 17)
devices was seized, performed a triage scan which came back clear besides a chat on telegram where there was roleplay about having an 8 year old daughter which he wasn't going through with, just started it and had to show his body so they'd "stop". Very confusing.
I read this - Fictional text is not a crime: Under UK law, text-based roleplay between adults involving a purely fictional person is not an offense. The law does not criminalize adult fantasy when no real child is involved, targeted, or harmed.
is this true?
the person I who was arrested sadly suffered a sexual assault at 7 years (has never told anyone besides me)
groomed on Skype by a family friend years ago
is a full time carer for his disabled mother
severe ocd and health anxiety
he is 28 and also a virgin still, so was stating he hadn't seen a naked minor so didn't know it was one.
is also suffering from gender identify issues but hasn't got the courage to tell anyone due to us having another family member who unfortunately isn't as accepting as others in regards to LGBTQ+
one of the men messaging the persons said account was arrested prior and that led to an investigation to the family member
any idea what to expect? So confused..
was taken to the station and questioned which he answered honestly and had solicitor
person saw on social media of others "catfishing" as young to get money so they did the same thing (they didn't receive any money though) was told creating the account wasnt illegal but the image was (it didn't have a face in and was estimated as 17)
devices was seized, performed a triage scan which came back clear besides a chat on telegram where there was roleplay about having an 8 year old daughter which he wasn't going through with, just started it and had to show his body so they'd "stop". Very confusing.
I read this - Fictional text is not a crime: Under UK law, text-based roleplay between adults involving a purely fictional person is not an offense. The law does not criminalize adult fantasy when no real child is involved, targeted, or harmed.
is this true?
the person I who was arrested sadly suffered a sexual assault at 7 years (has never told anyone besides me)
groomed on Skype by a family friend years ago
is a full time carer for his disabled mother
severe ocd and health anxiety
he is 28 and also a virgin still, so was stating he hadn't seen a naked minor so didn't know it was one.
is also suffering from gender identify issues but hasn't got the courage to tell anyone due to us having another family member who unfortunately isn't as accepting as others in regards to LGBTQ+
one of the men messaging the persons said account was arrested prior and that led to an investigation to the family member
any idea what to expect? So confused..
Another person's life wasted. Another 4 years or more of pointless investigations.
Sorry to hear your story. Keep yourself alive. Don't give up.
Sorry to hear your story. Keep yourself alive. Don't give up.
Thank you! It's very upsetting that's for sure. Do you have any idea what will happen?
Likely to be charged with obscene publication and for the image.
@tryingtobebrave thank you for the reply.
it's all so very confusing and upsetting. How are you doing?
in regards to obscene communication, would they still be charged if they wasn't the one sending the messages? They also apparently asked the other person to stop / said it makes them uncomfortable / "had to show them his body so they'd stop"?
It was pulled up on the triage scan, nothing else was though.
it's all so very confusing and upsetting. How are you doing?
in regards to obscene communication, would they still be charged if they wasn't the one sending the messages? They also apparently asked the other person to stop / said it makes them uncomfortable / "had to show them his body so they'd stop"?
It was pulled up on the triage scan, nothing else was though.
Sounds more like he was the victim of a catfishing to me. Without seeing all the chat logs, it is hard to know for certain what happened, but to prosecute for one cat C image in these circumstances would be harsh.
Look for a solicitor who specialises in pre charge work. They should be asking the police and CPS not to charge, because it is not in the public interest.
Look for a solicitor who specialises in pre charge work. They should be asking the police and CPS not to charge, because it is not in the public interest.
Dear Happygolucky and Forum Users,
Thank you for posting and for engaging with this discussion. It sounds like a very confusing and distressing time for the family member and those around him.
Unfortunately, we are unlikely to know enough about the specific circumstances of the case to predict what may happen next. Decisions about charging, sentencing and other outcomes will depend on the information and evidence available to the police and CPS, much of which may not be publicly known. As a result, it can be difficult to draw firm conclusions about the investigation or its likely outcome.
It may also be helpful to bear in mind that arrests and bail conditions are generally based on the information available to investigators at the time. While a limited amount of information has been shared here, there may be other factors or evidence being considered that are not known to forum members.
In relation to the roleplay question, the law in this area can be complex and often depends on the specific nature of the communications and material involved. While people sometimes understand fictional text-based roleplay between adults to be lawful, there are circumstances where content may be considered under other legislation, including the Obscene Publications Act. Without knowing the full details, it’s not possible for us to determine how any particular material may be viewed as part of an investigation. A solicitor would be best placed to provide advice tailored to the individual's circumstances.
The personal experiences you describe, including past trauma, mental health difficulties, caring responsibilities and questions around identity, sound significant and may be having a considerable impact on how the family member is coping at this time. Whatever the outcome of the investigation, appropriate support may be helpful. If they have not already done so, they may wish to contact the Stop It Now helpline, where they can speak confidentially and anonymously with a trained advisor.
It may also be helpful to remember that discussions about a person's circumstances and experiences can bring up a range of thoughts and feelings for forum members. While understanding someone's background can provide important context, people may have different perspectives on the significance of this information. As always, we encourage respectful discussion and ask members to be mindful of the wide range of experiences represented within our forum community.
Thank you for posting and for engaging with this discussion. It sounds like a very confusing and distressing time for the family member and those around him.
Unfortunately, we are unlikely to know enough about the specific circumstances of the case to predict what may happen next. Decisions about charging, sentencing and other outcomes will depend on the information and evidence available to the police and CPS, much of which may not be publicly known. As a result, it can be difficult to draw firm conclusions about the investigation or its likely outcome.
It may also be helpful to bear in mind that arrests and bail conditions are generally based on the information available to investigators at the time. While a limited amount of information has been shared here, there may be other factors or evidence being considered that are not known to forum members.
In relation to the roleplay question, the law in this area can be complex and often depends on the specific nature of the communications and material involved. While people sometimes understand fictional text-based roleplay between adults to be lawful, there are circumstances where content may be considered under other legislation, including the Obscene Publications Act. Without knowing the full details, it’s not possible for us to determine how any particular material may be viewed as part of an investigation. A solicitor would be best placed to provide advice tailored to the individual's circumstances.
The personal experiences you describe, including past trauma, mental health difficulties, caring responsibilities and questions around identity, sound significant and may be having a considerable impact on how the family member is coping at this time. Whatever the outcome of the investigation, appropriate support may be helpful. If they have not already done so, they may wish to contact the Stop It Now helpline, where they can speak confidentially and anonymously with a trained advisor.
It may also be helpful to remember that discussions about a person's circumstances and experiences can bring up a range of thoughts and feelings for forum members. While understanding someone's background can provide important context, people may have different perspectives on the significance of this information. As always, we encourage respectful discussion and ask members to be mindful of the wide range of experiences represented within our forum community.
