Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 31

Causing or inciting a person, with a mental disorder impeding choice, to engage in sexual activity

Part 1 Sexual Offences

(1)A person (A) commits an offence if—

(a)he intentionally causes or incites another person (B) to engage in an activity,

(b)the activity is sexual,

(c)B is unable to refuse because of or for a reason related to a mental disorder, and

(d)A knows or could reasonably be expected to know that B has a mental disorder and that because of it or for a reason related to it B is likely to be unable to refuse.

(2)B is unable to refuse if—

(a)he lacks the capacity to choose whether to agree to engaging in the activity caused or incited (whether because he lacks sufficient understanding of the nature or reasonably foreseeable consequences of the activity, or for any other reason), or

(b)he is unable to communicate such a choice to A.

(3)A person guilty of an offence under this section, if the activity caused or incited involved—

(a)penetration of B’s anus or vagina,

(b)penetration of B’s mouth with a person’s penis,

(c)penetration of a person’s anus or vagina with a part of B’s body or by B with anything else, or

(d)penetration of a person’s mouth with B’s penis,

is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.

(4)Unless subsection (3) applies, a person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.

Definitions used in section 31 2

Mental disorder

(6) “Mental disorder” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20) .

Defined in s.79(6) · see it in the full Act
Vagina

(9) “Vagina” includes vulva.

Defined in s.79(9) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 31 4

A Local Authority v JB

[2021] UKSC 52 · 24 November 2021Interprets

Engaging in sexual activity describes the actus reus of this offence. Its knowledge requirement and definition of inability to refuse do not conflict with the civil formulation of deciding whether to engage in sexual relations. (see para [116])

R v Lance Melville Percival

[2026] EWCA Crim 428 · 24 March 2026

The provision was applied in identifying several offences involving sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice for which concurrent custodial sentences were imposed. (see para [20])

GA, R. v

[2014] EWCA Crim 299 · 6 February 2014Interprets

The court treated the statutory description of lacking capacity to choose as reflecting the Mental Capacity Act definition. This supported its conclusion that the civil and criminal substantive tests do not differ. (see [24]-[25])

What each judgment says about section 31 is in the case-law panel in the full Act.