Historic Sexual Assault Allegation - No Further Action

Case study summary

Our client was accused of a historical sexual assault. He strongly denied the allegation. We submitted detailed representations to the police, explaining why the evidence was weak and did not meet the required threshold for a criminal charge. The police agreed to drop the case.

Case study

Our client was asked to attend a voluntary police interview in relation to an allegation of an historical sexual assault. The police said that alleged assault took place between 1994 and 1997.

We met with our client who strongly denied the allegation and confirmed that he had never sexually assaulted the complainant. He explained that he was a man with no relevant previous convictions and a 30-year unblemished career.

During our preparations for the police interview, we spoke with the officer in the case at length. We established that the allegation relied upon a video interview which the complainant had completed. There was no other evidence to support the complaint other than what she had said herself. In interview, we advanced a prepared statement on behalf of our client, in which he denied the allegations.

Following the interview, we prepared detailed written submissions which argued that the complainant's account alone was insufficient to justify taking the case further. There was no corroboration of any other type. We scrutinised her evidence too and raised concerns in relation to the physical possibility of the alleged assault which further supported our client's innocence. Finally, we gathered evidence to support our client's excellent character.

The police reviewed our detailed submissions and decided to take no further action. Our client was extremely relieved with this result.