Facing indecent images allegations? Time is critical.
If you’re under suspicion of possessing, making, or distributing indecent images, you need to instruct experts to defend you. Holborn Adams specialises in serious sexual offence defence, with an outstanding track record of indecent image case wins.
Even a charge, regardless of the outcome, can impact your personal and professional life for years to come. The police often focus on people in regulated and trusted professions, like teachers, doctors, social workers, and more. An indecent image charge can be career-ending. We focus on pre-charge intervention to get cases dropped early and protect your future. The sooner you contact us, the better your chances.
As a fully private firm, we dedicate more time and resources to each client, providing personalised support throughout. We’ll keep you informed, handle communication with prosecutors, and can recommend mental health support if needed. Call us today to make your next steps with confidence.
What should I do right now?
If you’ve been accused (or think you soon will be) of engaging in indecent image activity, please follow these steps:
- Get legal help immediately. You need a solicitor on your side straight away. Do not speak to the police without legal representation.
- Act before charges are made. With private representation (not legal aid), we can make pre-charge arguments to try and get the case dropped early.
- Prepare before police contact. Even if you haven’t been approached yet, our crisis management service can build a defence plan so we’re ready the moment you’re interviewed or arrested.
- Have expert support in interviews. If the police call you in, we’ll represent you and guide your responses to protect your defence.
Definition, offence categorisation and sentences
Indecent images involve nude or sexually suggestive content of a child (under 18) and are classified by severity: Category A (most serious), B, and C. Offences include possession, making, and distributing such images.
- Possession means having control over the image and knowing it's in your possession.
- Making includes creating, generating (e.g. AI), or downloading images - such as by viewing content that saves automatically.
- Distributing means sharing, sending, uploading, or showing the image to others.
Maximum sentences:
- Possession – up to 5 years' imprisonment.
- Making – up to 10 years' imprisonment.
- Distribution - up to 10 years' imprisonment.
If convicted, you will also be required to go on the Sex Offenders Register, a regulatory measure for public safety/monitoring.
Investigation process
Each indecent image investigation is unique, but many follow a similar timeline.
Stage 1: Police Discover Suspected Activity
Police can use many means to uncover indecent image activity, including:
- Reports from the public (e.g. colleagues, friends, computer repair engineers).
- Alerts from tech companies or international agencies.
- Undercover operations online.
- Accidental discovery during other investigations.
Stage 2: Police Action & Investigation
- You may be invited for a voluntary interview or arrested (with a home search and devices seized) - never attend an interview without a solicitor.
- After a voluntary interview, you may be arrested.
- After arrest, you’re usually released on bail with conditions (e.g. on where you can live, who you can contact). Bail can last up to 12 months, extended in 3-month periods.
- Devices are forensically examined - this can take months or even over a year.
Stage 3: Charging Decision
- Before charges, a private solicitor can make pre-charge representations to push for your case to be dropped.
- If charged, a date will be set for a plea hearing.
Stage 4: Plea Hearing
- Held at Magistrates’ Court.
- If you plead guilty, you’re sentenced (immediately or later).
- If you plead not guilty, your case goes to trial.
Stage 5: Trial
- This takes place at either Magistrates’ or Crown Court, depending on the seriousness of the case.
Potential defences
Our team is led by director Andrew Ford who is a recognised expert indecent image solicitor. We are extremely experienced with indecent image cases, so we are able to build a strong defence to encourage prosecutors to drop their case against you.
Some of the defences we can use, include:
- Unaware of images or how they were created/shared.
- Lack of control or involvement (e.g. unsolicited downloads, pop-ups while browsing online).
- Age or immaturity at the time.
- No prior offences / good character.
- Mental health or learning difficulties.
- Demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation.
- Mistaken identity or misclassification.
- Procedural or legal errors.
- Acted under pressure or duress.
We can build your defence, even before you are aware that a police investigation has been launched. Make your 100% confidential enquiry call to a member of our legal team now.
Additional ways we can support you
At Holborn Adams, we put client care first. Alongside expert legal defence, we support your wellbeing with links to mental health charities. We can also challenge bail conditions that disrupt family life, including those affecting households with children under 18.
Here are some of the related areas our indecent image solicitors can assist with:
- Sexual communication with a child.
- Causing, inciting or committing sexual activity with a child.
- Grooming or arranging offences.
- Historic sexual abuse.
- Indecent exposure.
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
Much of the stress of a criminal investigation comes from fear of the unknown. At Holborn Adams, we have a very transparent approach, ensuring you are heard, respected, and updated at every stage of the process. Here is how we onboard and defend clients.
Enquiry call with a legal expert
Explain your situation to us during a confidential call. We’ll give you an idea of initial steps and rough costs before passing it on to the rest of our team.
Case review and approval
We’ll brainstorm defence ideas and prepare a proposal and no-obligation, fixed-fee quote for our services. If you accept, we’ll get to work.
Strategy development
Where possible, we’ll appeal to get the case dropped before charges or pre-trial. We build the strongest defence possible.
Representation
We’ll be by your side during police interviews, stand up in court if your case progresses, and manage all communications with prosecutors.
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 indecent images solicitors can help you
Each indecent images case is different, so we tailor our approach depending on your situation. We offer a variety of legal services we can incorporate into your fixed fee defence for the best possible outcome.
Apply to vary bail conditions
We apply to have problematic bail conditions lifted, allowing you to live your life as normally as possible while the investigation progresses.
Create a defence strategy
We leave no stone unturned: we’ll pick flaws in current evidence, uncover new evidence, explore mitigating factors, and consult technical experts.
Reputation management
We use our experience and PR links to help protect your reputation and reduce damage to your personal and professional life.
Attend police interviews
We guide and support you through police interviews, ensuring you understand your rights and give responses that support your defence.
Early resolution with police
Pre-charge, we put forward a full defence to police to encourage them to drop the case with no further action.
Convincing the CPS not to proceed
Pre-trial, we can urge the CPS to drop the charges if evidence is flawed, procedures haven’t been followed, or if it’s not in the public interest.
Independent reviews
Explore our Trustpilot reviews to see what our customers have to say about their experiences with us!
No other firm came to my aid in the maximum time of need.
I had an urgent situation on a Sunday afternoon bank holiday and two different attorneys got involved immediately, with compassion, and outstanding assistance.
Hard work, determination and pure Grit!
Adam and his team are exactly who you would want defending you in any situation. The absolute definition of hard work, grit and willingness.
The professionalism, attention to detail, and depth of legal knowledge are second to none.
I would not hesitate to recommend Adam and his team to anyone looking for first-class legal representation there really is no other firm you need to look for – case closed.
I’ve turned to Holborn Adams’ expertise for some of the most important matters in my life.
I’ve had the privilege of working with Holborn Adams Solicitors, and in particular, Adam Rasul, who has provided exceptional legal services and advice throughout my boxing career and beyond.
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Adam Rasul is stand-up, trustworthy, driven, over-delivers, goes extra mile.
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Fay Ashton showed me a different perspective of criminal defense.
My experience with Holborn Adams was absolutely positive! I had a false allegation made against me and was arrested. Being from a different country and not having any criminal background, I didn't know what my rights were and was given the option of having
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We had utilised the services of this firm. The strategy and tactics they deployed enable my family members case to be nipped in the bud at an early stage. Extremely thorough and pedantic, asking all the correct questions at the right time. All the ingredients
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It’s so hard to know where to turn if you find yourself in the gut-wrenching position of needing specialist legal help. After extensive research of top law firms I chose Andrew & Ria at Holborn Adams because I thought that not only would they deliver a first-r
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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
The police rely on digital evidence from seized devices, online accounts, and forensic analysis to prove you have committed an indecent image offence.
A significant number are dropped before court (it’s thought to be around 13%), especially if strong pre-charge representations are made by your solicitor.
The police need to gather as much evidence as possible. They may interview you (voluntarily under caution or under arrest depending on the circumstances). They will seize your electronic devices and carry out forensic analysis. This process can take many months. After your arrest, you will be released on bail and must follow strict bail conditions, which your solicitor can help you appeal.
Possession means the storing or having access to indecent images. Making includes downloading, saving, or even viewing images (as this makes a copy). You can be charged with both.
Yes. Specialist forensic tools can often recover files you thought were deleted.
If images can be recovered from your device, they may count as possession.
A pseudo image is a computer-generated or altered image that looks like a real indecent image of a child. These are illegal.
Yes. If you are arrested, the police usually execute a search warrant to search your home and seize your devices.
Yes, prison is possible depending on the severity of the case. Alternatives such as community orders may also apply.
Whilst you can still be arrested and charged, intent matters. If it was genuinely accidental and not viewed or saved deliberately, this may form part of your defence.
Yes. An indecent images conviction automatically leads to notification requirements, with the length depending on your sentence.
You will only get your devices back after forensic analysis is complete and the case is resolved. You may never receive your devices back if they are found to have illegal material on them.
You are not legally required to tell your employer unless your bail conditions or job role demand it - for example, if you work with children. Your employer may find out through other means if you don’t inform them yourself.
These investigations can last many months, sometimes over a year, due to backlogs in digital forensics.
1. Expertise - Holborn Adams are specialists in defending sexual offences. In this area, our team is led by Andrew Ford, an expert in defending indecent images and other online sexual offence cases.
2. Results - Our track record of cases dropped with no further action is truly second to none. Our testimonials speak for themselves.
3. Client care - As a privately funded firm, we can offer the highest level of attention and case preparation - something you can’t get with firms who are stretched thin by legal aid cases. We are also able to offer help with mental health service referrals.
4. Location - We have offices all across the world, and we travel all across the UK and beyond to meet with our clients. Geography is not an issue for us - we can represent you wherever you are.