A Longman direction need not use the phrase 'dangerous to convict' to be adequate; the sufficiency of the direction depends on the circumstances of the case, including the length of delay, the existence of corroborative evidence, and whether the direction as a whole conveys the required message that the jury must carefully scrutinise the complainant's evidence. A delay of four to six years, combined with corroborative evidence such as medical evidence of sexually transmitted infection, may not require the strongest formulation of the warning.
The full text is available to signed-in members, including the 4 later cases that cite this judgment.