Our Client Has Grooming Case Dropped

Case study summary

Our client was arrested for indecent images possession and grooming, both of which could result in prison. We put forward detailed mitigation to the CPS who decided not to charge for the grooming and give a caution for the images with no court appearance.

Case study

In late 2021, our client was visited by the police, who seized a number of electronic devices from his address and forced him to wait for months until they had been analysed.

Evidence of indecent images had been found on the devices and our client attended an interview with the police, where he was represented by our firm. During that interview, mitigation was advanced detailing our client's significant mental health issues and how they had played a key part in the commission of the offence. A separate allegation of grooming also arose but this was strongly denied.

Following the interview, a detailed letter of representations was sent by our lawyers to the CPS. We stressed that the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to prove the offence of grooming.

As far as the images case was concerned, the mitigation included medical documents, character references from those in the community, and letters from his therapist. We put forward all of this on our client's behalf. This enabled the Crown Prosecution Service to assess the situation properly and offer a caution for this offence, as well as dropping the allegation of grooming.

This meant that our client was not charged with any offences and did not have to attend court. He was very relieved and told us he felt he had got his life back.