Obtaining commercial sexual services from person who is not an adult
217A Obtaining commercial sexual services from person who is not an adult
A person who obtains commercial sexual services from another person who is not an adult (the child) commits a crime.Maximum penalty—10 years imprisonment.
If the child is under 16 years, the person is liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
If the child is under 12 years, the person is liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life.
The Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, section 161Q states a circumstance of aggravation for an offence against this section.
An indictment charging an offence against this section with the circumstance of aggravation stated in the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, section 161Q may not be presented without the consent of a Crown Law Officer.
If the offence is alleged to have been committed in respect of a child of or above the age of 12 years, it is a defence to an offence against subsection (1) that the accused person believed, on reasonable grounds, that the child was an adult. sch 1 pt 4 ch 22 s 217A ins 2024 No. 23 s 13
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