Historic Sex Abuse Defence Solicitors
Holborn Adams specialise in defending sexual offence allegations - and our goal is to bring historic sex abuse cases to a close before any formal charges are even made. Andrew Ford, one of the UK’s top sexual offence solicitors, leads our team, resulting in an incredible track record of case wins. Call our team confidentially to enquire about our defence services.
Are you facing historic sex abuse allegations? Take the first step to defend yourself now.
We are pre-charge pioneers. We don’t believe in sitting around to see whether you are charged. We take a proactive approach to defend your case as soon as possible, appealing to prosecutors to drop the case with no further action. We’ll craft a full defence (as it would stand in court) and present it to the CPS to show why there is insufficient evidence or not in the public interest to charge you. The quicker you instruct us, the better the chances we can get the case dropped.
Historic sex abuse allegations are life-changing, and we know how important both results and support are at a time like this. We work exclusively on a private basis so we can offer better client care, dedicating more time, attention, and strategy to your case. We offer tailored defences rather than the rushed, one-size-fits-all approach common in legal aid (and firms who do both private and legal aid). Legal aid doesn’t cover pre-charge work either, which misses a vital window to prevent charges altogether — another reason we stay private.
Types of historic sex abuse and sentencing
The categorisation of sexual abuse and the sentences depend on whether the alleged offence took place before or after 1st May 2004. If found guilty, your sentence is almost always set based on the law at the time of the alleged offence.
Offences before 1st May 2004 are covered by the Sexual Offences Act (1956). The following list is extensive but not exhaustive:
- Rape - Up to life imprisonment.
- Indecent assault - Up to 10 years’ imprisonment for victims aged 13+, up to life imprisonment for victims under 13.
- Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 - Up to 2 years’ imprisonment.
- Indecency with a child - Up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
- Anal intercourse regardless of consent (before 1994) - Up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
- Non-intercourse sexual acts between men - Up to 2 years’ imprisonment.
- Assault with intent to commit rape - Up to life imprisonment.
Indecent images offences were criminalised under the Protection of Children Act (1978) and the Criminal Justice Act (1988), so for these offences before 2004:
- Making or distributing indecent images - Up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
- Possession with intent to distribute - Up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
- Simple possession (after 1988) - Up to 5 years’ imprisonment.
Offences after 1st May 2004 are covered by the Sexual Offences Act (2003). Some offences and maximum sentences include:
- Rape - Up to life imprisonment.
- Sexual Assault - Up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
- Possessing indecent images - Up to 5 years’ imprisonment.
- Making / distributing indecent images - Up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
- Historic sexual abuse - Up to life imprisonment.
- Child sexual abuse - Up to life imprisonment.
- Revenge porn - Up to 2 years’ imprisonment.
- Indecent exposure - Up to 2 years’ imprisonment.
- Sexual communication with a child - Up to 2 years’ imprisonment.
- Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity - Up to life imprisonment.
Regardless of the date of the alleged offence, if found guilty, you can be placed on the Sex Offenders Register.
Potential defences
Our extensive experience defending historic sexual offences means we can create highly tailored, effective defence strategies that encourage prosecutors to drop their investigation.
Some of the defences we may use include:
- Denying the allegation took place - proving with alibis/witnesses/documents.
- Mistaken identity - arguing the complainant has misidentified the accused.
- Consent - proving sexual activity was consensual and lawful (based on the law at the time).
- Prejudicial delay - the reporting delay means the accused has a prejudiced case since important evidence has been lost, making a fair trial impossible.
- Lack of forensic or corroborative evidence.
- Inconsistent accounts in complainant’s statements over time - question reliability.
- Ulterior motive to making false allegations - family disputes, mental health issues, money, etc.
- Prior false allegations made by the complainant - question their credibility.
The sooner you instruct us, the higher the chances are that we can get your case dropped with no further action. Speak to our legal team now to confidentially enquire about our defence services.
Nationwide Support
We take on clients across the UK
We have offices spread all across the UK (and even beyond!). We can represent you no matter where you are in the UK.
What we can offer
Extensive experience from successful cases.
Optional visits to your home to discuss case details.
Remote communications to save you travel time.
Ability to work to tight timescales to match the pace of the case.
Transparent pricing with fixed fees*
Our process
Your case, step by step
Facing a criminal investigation brings uncertainty, which can be incredibly stressful - especially when allegations are brought up many years later. At Holborn Adams, we prioritise clarity and communication from day one. You’ll be treated with respect, kept informed, and supported throughout every step. Here’s how we work with you:
Enquiry call with a legal expert
Speak in confidence with a legal specialist about your situation. We’ll explain your immediate options and give a general idea of potential costs — all without pressure to proceed.
Case review and approval
Our legal team reviews your case to identify defences and prepare a detailed proposal. You’ll receive a clear, fixed-fee quote — and if you give the go-ahead, we begin work straightaway.
Strategy development
We focus on securing an early resolution where possible. Our strategy is shaped around the specifics of your case to ensure a strong defence from the outset.
Representation
From police interviews to any court appearances, we represent you at every stage. We manage all communication with investigators and prosecutors so you don’t have to.
Respected and trusted
As proud members of the UK’s largest legal sector governing bodies, we are a team you can put your full trust in. We adhere to strict industry regulations, so you can be confident your case is in safe hands.
Our legal services
How our historic sex abuse solicitors can help you
Every allegation of a sexual offence is different, and our approach reflects that. We draw on extensive experience to craft a bespoke defence tailored to your needs. Our fixed-fee services cover all aspects of your case, offering comprehensive support and legal precision.
Apply to vary bail conditions
Sexual offence bail conditions can be highly restrictive. We can apply to have them varied or removed, particularly when they impact your family life or employment.
Create a defence strategy
We carry out a deep dive into your case — testing the strength of the evidence, working with experts where needed, and developing a strategy that addresses every angle.
Reputation management
Our team takes proactive steps to minimise reputational damage. From legal interventions to liaising with the media, we work to protect your public and private standing.
Attend police interviews
We’ll attend interviews with you, ensuring your rights are protected and helping you avoid errors that could harm your position later in the case.
Early resolution with police
Our goal is always to resolve matters as early as possible. We engage directly with police during the investigation to present your side and argue for no further action.
Convincing the CPS not to proceed
If a charge is brought, we can often make strong legal representations to the Crown Prosecution Service — showing that the case is flawed or not in the public interest to pursue.
Independent reviews
Explore our Trustpilot reviews to see what our customers have to say about their experiences with us!
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Our Fees
Fixed fee defence
Our team will give you a free, no-obligation quote after your initial consultation. We offer a fixed fee service, free of any hidden extra costs. Our firm is exclusively privately-funded meaning we cannot accept any legal aid clients. Your fees secure you a top-tier team and top-tier treatment, covering
Dedicated, experienced legal team.
Ability to get your case dropped before charges.
Representation at interviews and court hearings.
Requests to vary bail conditions where required.
Negotiating with police or prosecutors
Referrals to various support services.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some answers to our most commonly asked questions - for tailored support with your case, please call us now for a free initial consultation.
You can make an enquiry call for free, but we cannot provide free legal advice. As a 100% privately funded firm, we offer defence services exclusively to paying clients. During your enquiry call, we’ll learn about your case, confirm whether we can help, and give you a rough estimate of costs. Your case details will then be shared with our team to develop an initial strategy and prepare a formal, no-obligation fixed-fee quote. If you choose to proceed, this fee will cover your full defence.
No - we are a 100% privately funded firm, meaning we charge a fixed fee for our services. We do not take on legal aid cases. We find that focusing on private cases only allows us to dedicate more time and resources to defending our clients to a much higher degree than firms who are stretched thin by intense legal aid caseloads.
Yes - we are proudly accredited by the two largest governing legal bodies in the UK, the Law Society and Legal 500. We are also regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Every case is different. After your initial consultation, we’ll determine which services are best for your defence, and calculate a fixed fee quote for you. The price depends on the complexity of the case, how long it will take, which team members are best for the case, and whether we need to instruct specialists. We do not charge by the hour - only a fixed fee for your whole defence.
Yes, when you call us, your call is 100% confidential.
With legal authority, the police can monitor your communications without needing direct access to your phone. They may work with your network provider or internet service provider to intercept calls and messages, and monitor your browsing history and app usage.