Sexual Offence Defence Solicitors
Holborn Adams are experts in sexual offence defence, aiming to bring cases to a close before formal charges are made. Led by our director, Andrew Ford, a leading UK sexual offence solicitor, our track record of case wins is astounding. Make a confidential enquiry call to our team today.

Accused of a sexual offence? Start defending yourself today.
Our team are specialist sexual offence solicitors, with a focus on getting cases dropped pre-charge. If you have not yet been charged, we craft a full defence and present it to the investigators to encourage them to close the case with no further action. Our success rate is incredible - the sooner you get in touch, the better the odds.
We understand the emotional impact of sexual offence allegations and will treat you with empathy, respect, and seek minimal disruption to your life. As a fully private firm (no legal aid), we are able to devote more resources to our cases, resulting in truly personalised defence strategies - no cookie cutter approaches like many Government-funded firms. Legal aid doesn’t cover pre-charge engagement - a key reason we remain privately funded.
Types of sexual offence and sentencing
Sexual offence is a term to describe a number of specific offences. The punishment for a guilty verdict depends on the nature of the allegation. Some offences and maximum sentences are listed below:
- 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
If convicted, you will also be required to go on the Sex Offenders Register, which authorities use for public safety/monitoring.
Our expert sexual offence solicitors are experienced in defending all types of sexual offence. You may be facing allegations of more than one type of sexual offence - we are well-versed in handling such complex cases with compassion.
Potential defences
We are extremely experienced defending sexual offence cases of all types, allowing us to build strong defence cases that encourage investigators to drop their case with no further action.
Some of the defences we may use include:
- Consent - proving sexual activity was consensual and lawful.
- No sexual activity occurred - asserting allegations were falsely made.
- Mistaken identity - arguing the complainant has misidentified the accused.
- Insufficient evidence - prosecution cannot prove guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Evidence challenges - dispute the reliability or interpretation of evidence.
- Mental illness / disability - where applicable, impacting criminal responsibility.
- Procedural failings - identifying errors by prosecution that undermine a fair trial.
- Duress or coercion - showing the accused was forced to act under threat.
The quicker you instruct us, the better the chances are that we can get your case dropped. Call our legal team now to confidentially enquire about our 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
Much of the stress in a criminal investigation comes from uncertainty. At Holborn Adams, we take a transparent approach, ensuring you're listened to, respected, and kept informed throughout. Here's how we onboard and support our clients:
Enquiry call with a legal expert
Speak to us in confidence about your situation. We’ll outline initial steps and provide a rough cost estimate before involving the wider team.
Case review and approval
Our legal team explores potential defences and prepares a no-obligation proposal with a fixed-fee quote. If you decide to proceed, we begin work immediately.
Strategy development
We aim to have your case dropped early where possible, and build the strongest defence for any stage of the legal process.
Representation
We support you through police interviews, court appearances if needed, and handle all contact with the police and the CPS on your behalf.



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 sexual offence solicitors can help you
No two sexual offence cases are exactly the same. Our extensive experience allows us to easily tailor our approach depending on the circumstances. Your fixed fee defence covers a variety of legal services that give you both the best client care and results.

Apply to vary bail conditions
Bail conditions for sexual offences are often very strict, interfering with family and working life. We’ll appeal to have them lifted/adapted.

Create a defence strategy
Our team conducts a thorough case analysis, challenging weak evidence, seeking technical experts, and exploring all angles of defence.

Reputation management
Using our legal expertise and media contacts, we take proactive steps to shield your reputation and minimise personal or professional fallout.

Attend police interviews
We’ll be by your side during police questioning, helping you navigate the process confidently and avoid missteps that could harm your case.

Early resolution with police
At the investigation stage, we engage with police to present your defence in full, aiming to stop the case before any charges are filed.

Convincing the CPS not to proceed
Before trial, we may persuade the CPS to discontinue proceedings by exposing legal flaws, evidential issues, or arguing 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!
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 - and it is our ultimate goal with all cases that come to us pre-charge. We believe in a proactive approach, working with you to build a defence that encourages prosecutors and the CPS to drop the case with no further action. Please speak to us as soon as you become aware there are allegations against you. The earlier you reach out, the better.
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.
We have a member of our legal team available to speak 24/7, 365 days a year. Whenever you need to speak to someone, you will be connected instantly. All calls are 100% confidential.