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Paying for the sexual services of a child

Sexual Offences Act 2003, s.47 · Triable only on indictment (if involving penetration against victim under 16), otherwise triable either way

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Sentencing framework

This guideline outlines the sentencing framework for the offence of paying for the sexual services of a child, specifically focusing on cases where the victim is aged 16 or 17 years. It categorizes offences based on harm and culpability, setting starting points for sentencing based on these factors. Aggravating and mitigating factors are specified to guide sentencers in determining appropriate sentences.

Maximum sentence

Life imprisonment (Victim under 13 (penetrative)), 14 years’ custody (Victim under 13 (non-penetrative), Victim aged 13–15), 7 years’ custody (Victim aged 16–17)

Court

Triable only on indictment (if involving penetration against victim under 16), otherwise triable either way

Offence range

Community order – 5 years’ custody (Victim aged 16–17)

Aggravating factors

  • ·Previous convictions
  • ·Ejaculation
  • ·Failure to comply with current court orders
  • ·Offence committed whilst on bail
  • ·Offence committed whilst on licence
  • ·Any steps taken to prevent the victim reporting an incident, obtaining assistance and/or from assisting or supporting the prosecution
  • ·Attempts to dispose of or conceal evidence

Mitigating factors

  • ·No previous convictions or no relevant/recent convictions
  • ·Remorse
  • ·Positive character and/or exemplary conduct
  • ·Age and/or lack of maturity (which may be applicable to offenders aged 18-25)
  • ·Mental disorder or learning disability, particularly where linked to the commission of the offence
  • ·Demonstration of steps taken to address offending behaviour
  • ·Physical disability or serious medical condition requiring urgent, intensive or long-term treatment
  • ·Difficult and/or deprived background or personal circumstances
  • ·Prospects of or in work, training or education

Sentencing range explorer

Select the culpability level and harm category to see the guideline's starting point and category range. This is an educational illustration of the published guideline — not a sentence calculation, and not legal advice. Courts apply the full step-by-step process, aggravating and mitigating factors, and the totality principle.

Culpability

Harm

Select a culpability level and a harm category above.

The sentencing process, step by step

  1. Step 1 — determining the offence category
  2. Step 2 — Starting point and category range
  3. Step 3 — Consider any factors which indicate a reduction, such as assistance to the prosecution
  4. Step 4 — Reduction for guilty plea
  5. Step 5 — Dangerousness
  6. Step 6 — Totality principle
  7. Step 7 — Ancillary orders
  8. Step 8 — Reasons
  9. Step 9 — Consideration for time spent on bail (tagged curfew)

Guideline notes

  • This guideline should only be used where the victim is aged 16 or 17 years old.

Always read the full guideline

This is a one-page summary. For any live case, sentencing exercise, or legal advice the authoritative source is the Sentencing Council's own definitive guideline — including the category bands, step-by-step sentencing approach, and all statutory factors not captured here.

Open the full guideline on sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Source: Sentencing Council · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-28. Not legal advice — see a regulated adviser for any live case.