Eventum Legal Powering your defence & navigating tough waters together

Our friendly team of dedicated lawyers have a strong passion for protecting our clients and defending their case, working together to achieve the best possible outcome, this advice and support extends to professionals who, aside from police investigation, are also investigated by their regulatory bodies

Telegram: The Dark Web in Your Pocket, a recent article published by BBC News has set out to explore the issues with the Dark Web and how accessible it is via the app Telegram. The article addresses the accessibility of indecent images of children on Telegram and the lack of moderation by Telegram of illegal activity.

Being charged with a sexual offence means that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have considered the evidence in your case and made the decision to pursue a prosecution through the courts.

Rape is a serious offence which carries a maximum of life imprisonment, however is life really life and what other sentences are available to the court?

Allegations of domestic violence are serious and can prevent a person from living in their home and with their children. This blog explains the some short facts about the consequences of a domestic violence allegation.

It is the time of year when music festivals are taking place across the country, thousands of people are gathering to socialise and enjoy the events. However, crime reports suggest that there is a huge increase in sexual allegations made at music festivals by people of all ages. This leads to arrests, police investigations and prosecutions.

Almost all people own a mobile phone in this day and age, they have replaced the traditional home phone land line, and make communication much easier and quicker. A mobile phone also provides us with various ways of communicating such as via text message, what’s app, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat to name a few and allow for multiple participants to be involved in a conversation.

Your case has concluded, you have been found not guilty or the decision has been made to take no further action however, you are left with the record of your arrest which, may be affecting your employment, ability to rent a property, apply to go to university or travel. It may also be that you just feel that it would be unfair for you to live with a criminal record, having not been charged with or convicted of a criminal offence.

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing, particularly for the production of indecent images and videos of children. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has recently prosecuted the first case of its kind for Greater Manchester Police, the case of Hugh Nelson, who amongst other sexual offences, stood charged with offences which involved producing indecent material using AI. It was alleged that Mr Nelson used real photographs of children to turn them into sexual images, he would sell and distribute the material online.

Petition for more Rape Cases to be Prosecuted - What Could This Mean for the Accused?

The Difference Between a Psychiatric and Psychological Report in Criminal Proceedings

Huw Edwards Charged with Making Indecent Images - What Will Happen Next?

Consent can be a complex issue in sexual offence cases, our blog explains what consent is and the implications.

When under investigation for a sexual or domestic violence offence, a suspect is likely to be placed on pre charge bail. Understanding the legal implications and how you can challenge bail is important.

The Difference Between Legal Aid and Paying Privately

You have been arrested, the police have attended your home or place of work with a search warrant allowing them to enter the relevant premises, search for potential evidence and to seize it for examination. If the commission of sexual offences is suspected, then it can be almost guaranteed that some if not all of the items seized will be electronic such as; phones, tablets, computers, hard drives, cameras and USB devices, all of which may be password protected. You can then be faced with the dilemma of whether or not you provide your passwords/PIN to the police, and if you even have to by law.

Allegations of domestic violence carry significant consequences for the accused, in addition to the possibility of losing their liberty, the social stigma that comes with allegations of violence within the home can cause irreparable damage to relationships, employment, travel/VISA problems and a persons reputation. Social and Personal Consequences Accusations can lead to widespread social exclusion, as domestic violence is widely condemned. Friends, family, and community members may distance themselves from the accused isolating them from their social norms. Reputational Damage An accused's personal and professional reputation can be severely tarnished. Even if proven innocent, the accusation alone can leave a lasting negative impact on a persons ability to begin new relationships, commence or start employment. It is therefore, your lawyers handle your case in a way which considers the reputational issues that may arise and manages those appropriately. Impact on Mental Health The stress and emotional toll that being accused can lead to anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. It is normal to feel isolated when going through an investigation, and it is expected for them to feel unfairly judged. Instruct a lawyer who can guide you through the process step by step and who will dedicate their time to ensuring the correct level of client care is provided to you. Our team at Eventum Legal have undertaken mental health awareness training, our staff can support and sign post you to services that can help. Legal and Financial Consequences The accused facing criminal charges face the prospect of a lengthy court process to prove their innocence. The consequences should the accused be convicted could lead to imprisonment, retraining orders being imposed and other mandatory orders being placed upon them by the court which can restrict their life, and again relationships with their loved ones and in some cases children. The financial strain of of the legal challenges can result in significant hardship, but financial strain may also be caused by the loss of employment. It is important to work with your legal team to assess how your financial situation may be impacted due to a false domestic violence allegation. Family and Relationship Strain Family dynamics can be severely impacted, sometimes at no choice of either party. If you have been accused of being violent in a domestic setting against someone close to you, this could lead to estrangement from family members, loss of contact with children or restrictions on your ability to see or care for your children. You may also be prohibited from going to a certain area, or collecting your children from school. The allegations may also cause issues in new relationships such as trust issues, and the trauma for the accused can make it very difficult to form future relationships. We often find that alongside criminal allegations relating to domestic violence there are family proceedings ongoing. We fully acknowledge that false allegations can be made to bolster family court claims whether they be ongoing financial disputes or child custody battles. It is important that you instruct lawyers who are aware of the impact criminal proceedings can have on family court proceedings and vice versa. Societal Perspectives Reactions by society can cause immense issues in domestic violence cases due to the gender stereotypes that influence the thoughts of society. Men are often assumed to be the perpetrators, while women are presumed the victims, complicating the situation for both genders. Social Media In today's society social media massively impacts public opinion and can often exacerbate the situation between the accused and the complainant. Social media can amplify the stigma surrounding domestic violence leading to widespread condemnation and misinformation. If you are accused of such an offence, it is important you keep records of any social media posts that may be relevant to the allegations against you. The Importance of a strong Defence and a Fair Trial Early legal advice and representation is crucial in preventing the injustices of being wrongly accused of domestic violence, and also the consequences above. at Eventum legal all of the above are at the forefront of our minds when we are representing our client, preserving their reputation, their relationships with loved ones and their children and ensuring the evidence is carefully considered and challenged. If you have professional bodies involved in the allegations against you, or there are separate proceedings in the family court, we can work with employment lawyers and family lawyers to protect your legal interests in all courts.

Consent is what separates legal sexual activity from sexual assault (unwanted touching of a sexual nature) or rape (unwanted sexual activity involving penetration). Consent is a key ingredient in the most serious sexual offences; rape, sexual assault by penetration and sexual assault.

What to Expect at Trial

What is Domestic Violence?

Takin a pro active approach is crucial to defending a rape allegation, there are many avenues your defence team can take to bolster your defence and undermine the complaint.

A Section 28 hearing is a special measure applied for by the Crown Prosecution Services in most sexual offence cases. This blog explains exactly what a section 28 hearing is and the rules surrounding them.

Our membership with the Youth Justice Legal Centre, allows us to provide the very best informed advice to our youth client. Here are some of the frequently asked questions our clients and enquiries ask of us.

A lot of children plead guilty when they are not for various reasons ranging from trauma and anxiety - wanting the process to be over as quickly as possible or, to protect others due to being involved in exploitation such as sextortion. Lawyers must be aware of this and ready to identify the potential needs of the child and experiences they are going through in order to provide the best representation.

Our lawyers have undertaken specialist training with the National Autistic Society, training that is vital for providing assistance to people with autism who find themselves under police investigation or going to court accused of a criminal offence.

A criminal trial can be a very daunting and an intimidating prospect for many whether it be a trial in the Magistrates Court or at the Crown Court, for various reasons the whole process can cause both physical and mental affects on a defendant’s health.