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Sexual assault of a child under 13

s.7 Sexual Offences Act 2003 · Either-way

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Sentencing framework

The guideline for sexual assault of a child under 13 organizes sentencing based on two main factors: culpability and harm. The court first categorizes the offence using established criteria and then determines the appropriate starting point and range for sentencing. Aggravating and mitigating factors can further adjust the final sentence, with the aim of reflecting both the severity of the offence and the circumstances of the offender.

Maximum sentence

14 years’ custody

Court

Either-way

Starting point

6 years’ custody

Offence range

Community order – 9 years’ custody

Aggravating factors

  • ·Previous convictions
  • ·Offence committed whilst on bail
  • ·Specific targeting of a particularly vulnerable child
  • ·Offence facilitated by grooming

Mitigating factors

  • ·No previous convictions or no relevant/recent convictions
  • ·Remorse
  • ·Positive character and/or exemplary conduct
  • ·Age and/or lack of maturity
  • ·Mental disorder or learning disability
  • ·Physical disability or serious medical condition requiring urgent, intensive or long-term treatment

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 pleas
  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)

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.