Support/advice
Notifications OFF
I've been browsing on this since we got the knock and now feel ready to ask for some advice, help or just to get some ideas of the process.
My person is 25 (24 at time off offence)
knock happened April 2025, 2 x sexual offence charges (all category images, same victim (aged 16) happened over a week, no coercion)
Police bail for 3 months, this has been extended by another 3 months which is due to end in October.
Haven't heard much from solicitor or officer in charge, we think this is a good thing but have no history or knowledge of the criminal justice system.
my person has done the saferlives course and sees a private therapist.
just looking to get some advice, help or more insight as to what to excpect from here really.
thank you so much for reading and thank you to the members of the forum who have without knowing, been such a help.
My person is 25 (24 at time off offence)
knock happened April 2025, 2 x sexual offence charges (all category images, same victim (aged 16) happened over a week, no coercion)
Police bail for 3 months, this has been extended by another 3 months which is due to end in October.
Haven't heard much from solicitor or officer in charge, we think this is a good thing but have no history or knowledge of the criminal justice system.
my person has done the saferlives course and sees a private therapist.
just looking to get some advice, help or more insight as to what to excpect from here really.
thank you so much for reading and thank you to the members of the forum who have without knowing, been such a help.
Hi muminneed
sorry to see you here, hopefully someone will be along soon to give more accurate advice but I can give you an outline of my timeline as a guide but no 2 cases are ever the same. Unfortunately it's a long road with a few milestones along the way that will determine how tricky and long your journey is. Please try not to worry too much about things really far ahead. I'm sharing as for me; it helped my anxiety to know in advance what the next steps were and to have a rough plan for each possibility.
This is a very stressful time for all and a lot of people highly recommend just focusing on getting through each day at a time until you hit that next milestone. Please seek support from the helpline, your GP and any support networks you have as it will really help in those tougher days. It's an awful journey but each step gets you closer to the end.....there is an end.
Times can vary wildly depending on a lot of factors but for my experience arrest to sentencing was exactly 1 year (which apparently is abnormally quick in our area). bail was whilst they investigate and look for evidence. It is usually extended 3 months at a time and after 3 lots of extension you move to "under investigation" instead and bail conditions *may be dropped. However in our case the forensics were carried out quite quickly within the first 3 months on devices and they found more evidence and my person was invited in for second interview to discuss what they've found. Bail was just extended each time right up until the end. If they find nothing it may dropped. I would strongly advise a solicitor at any interviews to make sure your son knows their rights and what is best to do/what they're facing. After this they'll send the evidence off to CPS to make a decision on whether they're able to charge. You'll then hear back what the charges are, or if there isnt enough to charge and it's dropped. At the time for us we were advised it takes anywhere 3 months plus and can go backwards and forwards a few times. Charges came back and there was be a plea date to go to court about 1 month later, where they decided if it needs to go to crown or magistrates (this will also depend on how your person pleads-not guilty usually goes to crown). Again you'll need a solicitor for this. Depending on charges and evidence he may be advised to plead guilty as it cuts down the sentence dramatically and shows "acceptance and recognition of the offence" as there are very few successful defences for these crimes. Sentencing is about a month after plea for magistrate but can be much longer (1year plus) for crown and they can literally cancel it on the same day to be rearranged later which some fond tough if they weren't expecting this.
sending you strength and hope
sorry to see you here, hopefully someone will be along soon to give more accurate advice but I can give you an outline of my timeline as a guide but no 2 cases are ever the same. Unfortunately it's a long road with a few milestones along the way that will determine how tricky and long your journey is. Please try not to worry too much about things really far ahead. I'm sharing as for me; it helped my anxiety to know in advance what the next steps were and to have a rough plan for each possibility.
This is a very stressful time for all and a lot of people highly recommend just focusing on getting through each day at a time until you hit that next milestone. Please seek support from the helpline, your GP and any support networks you have as it will really help in those tougher days. It's an awful journey but each step gets you closer to the end.....there is an end.
Times can vary wildly depending on a lot of factors but for my experience arrest to sentencing was exactly 1 year (which apparently is abnormally quick in our area). bail was whilst they investigate and look for evidence. It is usually extended 3 months at a time and after 3 lots of extension you move to "under investigation" instead and bail conditions *may be dropped. However in our case the forensics were carried out quite quickly within the first 3 months on devices and they found more evidence and my person was invited in for second interview to discuss what they've found. Bail was just extended each time right up until the end. If they find nothing it may dropped. I would strongly advise a solicitor at any interviews to make sure your son knows their rights and what is best to do/what they're facing. After this they'll send the evidence off to CPS to make a decision on whether they're able to charge. You'll then hear back what the charges are, or if there isnt enough to charge and it's dropped. At the time for us we were advised it takes anywhere 3 months plus and can go backwards and forwards a few times. Charges came back and there was be a plea date to go to court about 1 month later, where they decided if it needs to go to crown or magistrates (this will also depend on how your person pleads-not guilty usually goes to crown). Again you'll need a solicitor for this. Depending on charges and evidence he may be advised to plead guilty as it cuts down the sentence dramatically and shows "acceptance and recognition of the offence" as there are very few successful defences for these crimes. Sentencing is about a month after plea for magistrate but can be much longer (1year plus) for crown and they can literally cancel it on the same day to be rearranged later which some fond tough if they weren't expecting this.
sending you strength and hope
Have they actually been charged or just bailed while under investigation? Normally the charges come with a court date. If they have not been charged then it could be a long wait for the devices to be checked and for CPS to make a decision.