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Voyeurism

s.67 Sexual Offences Act 2003 · Crown Court / Magistrates / Triable either way

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Sentencing framework

The guideline for voyeurism sentencing involves categorizing the offence based on harm and culpability. The courts assess the seriousness of the offence to determine an appropriate starting point for sentencing, which varies from community orders to custody, depending on specific aggravating and mitigating factors.

Maximum sentence

2 years’ custody

Court

Crown Court / Magistrates / Triable either way

Starting point

26 weeks’ custody

Offence range

Fine – 18 months’ custody

Aggravating factors

  • ·Image(s) available to be viewed by others
  • ·Victim observed or recorded in their own home or residence
  • ·Significant degree of planning
  • ·Image(s) recorded
  • ·Abuse of trust
  • ·Specific or previous targeting of a particularly vulnerable victim
  • ·Commercial exploitation and/or motivation
  • ·Offence racially or religiously aggravated
  • ·Offence motivated by hostility to the victim based on sexual orientation or transgender identity
  • ·Offence motivated by hostility to the victim based on disability

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 linked to the commission of the offence
  • ·Demonstration of steps taken to address offending behaviour
  • ·Physical disability or serious medical condition requiring urgent 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 — assessment of culpability and harm
  3. Step 3 — consider any factors which indicate a reduction
  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

Guideline notes

  • This guideline emphasizes the need for a clear assessment of culpability and harm when determining sentencing, and it applies to all offenders aged 18 and older.

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.