Abstract
This chapter examines key types of sexual offence in England and Wales contained in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. These include rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and causing sexual activity without consent. The chapter discusses the key elements of these offences, analyses the social context of rape, and investigates the reasons behind the low conviction rates for rape cases. It explains the principles of the actus reus and mens rea elements of sexual offences, considers marital rape, and also provides examples of several relevant cases and analyses the bases of court decisions in each of them.
