MPR solicitors successful in removing client from the Sex Offenders' Register

We advised and represented a client in respect of an appeal against sentence. Our client was harshly and in our opinion (which was proved correct) incorrectly sentenced and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register (SOR) for 5 years by a lay bench in a South London Magistrates Court. Being placed on the SOR has extremely serious consequences and is a draconian piece of legislation if it affects someone that in reality should not have been placed upon it in the first place. The SOR has its place within the criminal justice system and is there to protect our society from potential harm by those properly convicted of serious sexual offences. However, the legislation behind the SOR places huge powers and discretion upon the police to safeguard children and the community at large. When this type of power is almost impossible to challenge, there are bound to be miscarriages of justice.

In our client’s case the safeguarding principals were usurped by the police and had such a detrimental impact upon our client and his family that he had no option but to appeal his sentence.

We took a pragmatic view and with our specialist knowledge in serious sexual offences, we were able to put together a cohesive appeal strategy and instructed experts and a leading Queens Counsel (QC) to conduct the appeal in the Crown Court. During the appeal hearing which lasted a whole day and during which expert evidence was called as well as character witnesses and witnesses as to fact, the Court held in favour of our client’s appeal. The Court went further and was damning of the local police force and the local judiciary in the manner in which it has treated our client.

Our client was immediately removed from the SOR and is now able to enjoy a normal life with his family and carry on in his field of work unimpeded.

Despite negative advice on appeal by a previous barrister, our lawyer Seema Parikh was convinced that the sentence was appealable and strongly advised our client to go ahead with a full appeal to the Crown Court.

The case was privately funded and as a result a Defence Costs Order was obtained and some of our client’s legal and expert fees will be reimbursed by the State from Central Funds.

At MPR Solicitors, we offer a totally bespoke service based upon your needs. We can offer a range of fixed fees or hourly rates or a combination of the two depending upon your requirements. We have also introduced a “Pay as you Go” service which allows you to pay your legal fees in instalments or in stages in the proceedings. This allows you to budget for your case. Please bear in mind that legal aid in criminal proceedings in means tested and in a lot of cases, you would have to fund your case on a private basis or be subject to hefty contributions. For those who are eligible for legal aid, MPR solicitors hold a criminal franchise from the Legal Aid Agency which allows us to take on publicly funded criminal defence work (which can be limited in the type of service you can expect to receive).