Rape within marriage has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since 1991, when the House of Lords removed a common law exemption that had stood for more than 250 years. The date is the single most-searched question on this subject, and it is also the...
If you or someone close to you is facing a manslaughter charge, the question that matters most is how long a manslaughter sentence actually is. In England and Wales, the answer is wider than for almost any other offence: a manslaughter sentence can range...
Being investigated by the police can be a worrying experience, particularly where your private digital communications are concerned. Many people ask whether the police can see WhatsApp and Snapchat messages, especially given the widespread use of encryption...
If you are facing an allegation about something said to have happened years or even decades ago, the first question is usually the same: how can historical abuse be proven when there is no DNA, no CCTV and no contemporary record? The honest answer is that...
Non-fatal strangulation became a specific criminal offence in England and Wales in June 2022. If you have been arrested or charged with non-fatal strangulation, you are facing a serious offence that can be sent to the Crown Court and carries a real risk of...
Being caught with drugs for the first time is frightening, and the questions come fast: will I go to prison, can the charge be dropped, and will this follow me around on my record? For a first offence involving a small amount for personal use, the realistic...
Driving without due care and attention is one of the most common motoring offences charged in England and Wales, and one of the most misunderstood. It covers everything from a momentary lapse at a junction to sustained careless driving that puts other...
Most police forces in England and Wales now let road users upload footage and report driving offences online, so a clip from a cyclist's helmet camera or another driver's dashcam can land on a police desk within minutes. If you have been caught by a...
The Sentencing Act 2026 has introduced important changes to sentencing in England and Wales. One of the most significant changes is the increased availability of suspended sentences. A suspended sentence is a custodial sentence, but the person does not go...
If you have been charged with theft, the question that matters most is simple: what sentence am I facing? In England and Wales, theft carries anything from a discharge to six years in custody, with a maximum of seven years. Where you fall in that range...
