Sexual Offences

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people received a (a) caution, (b) suspended prison sentence, (c) community sentence and (d) conditional or absolute discharge for (i) rape, (ii) sexual assault and (iii) sexual activity with a child in 2008. (316325)

The requested information is shown in the following table.

The data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed, where the same sentence is imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.

*Sentences for rape, sexual assault and sexual activity with a child, 2008*
	Number
Rape¹
Caution	36
Discharge	1
Community sentence	32
Suspended sentence	3
Immediate custody	865
Total sentenced	919
Sexual assault²
Caution	728
Discharge	63
Community sentence	640
Suspended sentence	207
Immediate custody	1,122
Total sentenced	2,113
Sexual activity with a child³
Caution	396
Discharge	15
Community sentence	246
Suspended sentence	92
Immediate custody	572
Total sentenced	931
¹ Includes rape and attempted rape of a female/male over 16, under 16 and under 13 ² Includes Assault on a female/male by penetration, assault on a female/male under 13 by penetration, sexual assault on a female/male, and sexual assault on a female/male under 13 ³ Includes offences under S.4, S.8, S.9, S.10, S.11 and S.12 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Does not include familial sexual offences under S.25 and S.26

Volume 505: debated on Wednesday 10 February 2010