Is grooming illegal?

[bantingm]

If an adult of 49, 'groomed' a child from the age of 14, but did not have sexual intercourse with her until she was 16, has he commited an offence? Is it illegal?

[joggerjayne]

bantingm ...

Bearing in mind Post No. 1 on this thread ...

And with reference to the link posted by sara3 ...

(but WITHOUT any details specific to either party)

... what did the "grooming" involve ?

[Prudentia]

knobby really is talking sense JJ, please please walk away from this, my instincts tell me you are in a real worrying situation. love to see you back in the morning, Prudentia xxxx xxxx

[Gormless]

Explain?

[joggerjayne]

Okay,Pru ...

But this post MIGHT be genuine.

If Gormless would stop flitting around AnswerBank scattering insults like confetti, he might learn to spot when someone is trying to be helpful.

At the moment, he is too blinkered by his own prejudice.

[sara3]

am I missing something? I know it's an "iffy" subject, and the poster is mysteriously absent.. but it's been answered now.

I thought we tried to answer anything...

[Gormless]

What do you mean, it MIGHT be??!!!!!

Breathless arrogance. It MIGHT be!!! It MIGHT be!!!

How very gracious of you. It was posted in Law. Why should it not be genuine?

MIGHT be!!!!!!

Oh dear me.

[wonkon-wonk]

If an adult of 49, 'groomed' a child from the age of 14,

THEN HE is just a fookin pervert end of fooking story!

[Barmaid]

Sorry, but where does it say on the Site Rules "you may only ask questions if you can prove that you are a genuine poster and the issue affects you personally". Even if this poster is not genuine, she has raised a serious question and as such it is worthy of a serious answer.

Bantingm has posted a sincere and detailed explanation elsewhere on the site and she was advised to post in Law to see if anyone could help. This she has done and has been practically accused of being a troll, with no evidence whatsoever to back this up. Shameful behaviour by some.

Bantingm - from what you say, these events happened sometime ago. The Sexual Offences Act was only operative from Jan 2003 (I think) which made grooming illegal. However, some of the activities you have described do amount to abuse for which charges could follow. I would suggest you go to the local police station and ask to speak to someone. They will have specially trained officers there who will be experienced in this area and will be able to take full details of what happened and advise as to the way forwards.

[joggerjayne]

Golly, Gormless ...

Are you truly saying that because a thread appears in "Law" then it can't possibly be a wind up?

That is a bit naive.

[cazzz1975]

hmmm why is this a wind up? it may be a genuine Q however controversial..

[joggerjayne]

The final paragraph of Barmaid's post repeats precisely what I asked in the very first post of the thread ...

... in an attempt to ascertain whether or not there might have been any incidents or actions which might constitute an offence.

[Gormless]

No JJ, I am not saying that. I expect the OP is really grateful to you for extending the opinion that his/her post might be genuine.

I may be naive, but I am not crassly stupid.

[joggerjayne]

But without further input from the OP, bearing in mind the date when the SOA came into force, we are not in a position to point the OP towards an answer.

[sara3]

are you suggesting that this doesn't happen in the real world?

[joggerjayne]

Hang on Gormless ...

... have I said that it's not genuine?

My precise words were "I'm not sure myself now."

However, at the same time (unlike you) I am also trying to guide the OP towards an answer.

[Gormless]

Any lawyers on here?

Barmaid I think. Any others?

Who is to point the poster to a correct answer?

[sara3]

sorry, I meant Gormless ^^

I am v confused!