Our sexual offence solicitors in Reading form part of the UK’s leading specialist sexual offence defence team. No other criminal defence team in the Thames Valley matches the depth of our specialist experience, the individual standing of our lawyers or our record in the most serious and complex sexual offence cases.
We are ranked Band 1 for Crime in the Thames Valley by Chambers UK and Top Tier in the South East by the Legal 500. Our reputation has been built through years of defending serious sexual allegations and securing no further action decisions, acquittals and not guilty verdicts for clients across Berkshire and throughout the country.
The Thames Valley team is led by founding partner Stuart Matthews, a Legal 500 Leading Individual and one of the country’s most highly regarded sexual offence defence lawyers. He works alongside partners Tom Brymer and Kate Macnab, both of whom are individually ranked for their criminal defence work. Few firms can offer comparable strength across an entire team, from the earliest stage of a police investigation through to the most demanding Crown Court trials.
We recognise that some sexual allegations are false, exaggerated or maliciously motivated. Our solicitors examine the timing of the complaint, the circumstances in which it was made and the wider relationship between those involved. Messages, social media activity and other digital evidence are carefully analysed to identify inconsistencies, test the account being given and uncover material that supports the defence.
We Cover the Full Range of Sexual Offences:
- Rape
- Historic offences
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Communication with a Child
- Possession of indecent images
- Abuse of position of trust allegations (for example, doctor-patient or teacher-pupil)
- Indecent Exposure & Outraging public decency
- Revenge porn Matters
- Extreme Porn
Common contexts we regularly see:
- Allegations following relationship breakdown or Family Court proceedings
- University and student-related allegations, including those arising from University of Reading and other Berkshire institutions
- Online allegations, including unsolicited indecent images and digital communications
- Workplace sexual harassment or assault allegations
- Cases involving neurodiverse individuals
- Allegations involving so-called paedophile hunter groups and potential entrapment
- Historic allegations arising from the Thames Valley area
For immediate assistance, contact our Reading sexual offence solicitors by calling 0118 902 7130, emailing [email protected], or send a confidential enquiry.
Representation at Every Stage
Our Reading Sexual Offences Team specialises in proactively defending people who are under investigation by Thames Valley Police for sexual offences. With so much at stake, it is essential to consider every possible angle when seeking to prevent a prosecution. We carefully identify potential defence evidence, including text messages and wider witness material, and analyse weaknesses in the prosecution case. We have an outstanding track record in submitting detailed written representations to the investigating officer, resulting in cases being dropped at an early stage.
Whether you have been interviewed and bailed to return to the police station, or released under investigation, we offer clear fixed-fee packages covering:
- Representation at any re-interview at the police station in Berkshire or the wider Thames Valley area
- Review of your initial police interview, with advice on any further action required
- Assessment of potential defence evidence
- Assistance identifying and gathering defence evidence not pursued or overlooked by the police
- Preparation of written representations to the police, for example to challenge weak evidence or to seek an out-of-court outcome such as a caution, supported by relevant mitigating factors including mental health difficulties, OCD, or neurodiversity
- Direct communication with the investigating officer, including updates on bail extensions
- Applications to vary or remove bail conditions where necessary
- Practical guidance on proactive steps to protect your position
Thames Valley Police often request a voluntary interview in sexual offence cases, particularly in historic allegations where an arrest is not immediately necessary to secure evidence. Due to the serious nature of these offences, we strongly advise obtaining legal representation before attending any voluntary interview.
When instructed, we seek advance disclosure from the investigating officer about the allegation. A pre-interview conference with your solicitor can significantly reduce understandable anxiety and ensure you are properly prepared before attending the police station.
We regularly attend police stations across Berkshire and the Thames Valley, including:
- Reading Police Station
- Newbury Police Station
- Maidenhead Police Station
- Slough Police Station
- Bracknell Police Station
- Abingdon Police Station (for Berkshire cases investigated from that site)
Every sexual offence prosecution in Berkshire begins with an initial appearance at Reading Magistrates’ Court, which is the principal Magistrates’ Court serving the county.
Reading Magistrates’ Court and Family Court | Castle Street, Reading, RG1 7TQ
Our team has extensive experience representing clients at Reading Magistrates’ Court and has established professional relationships with local court staff, Magistrates and District Judges. Early and proactive instruction allows us to obtain court papers well in advance of the first hearing and to review the evidence thoroughly. This ensures proper preparation from the outset, reduces the understandable anxiety of attending court, and places clients in the strongest possible position as the case progresses.
The most serious sexual offence allegations arising in Berkshire are tried at Reading Crown Court.
Reading Crown Court | The Forbury, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3EH
Whether your case is sent to the Crown Court for sentence or trial, we provide expert representation throughout the proceedings. We work with many leading barristers’ chambers serving the South East, ensuring our clients are represented by genuine sexual offence specialists. Our familiarity with Reading Crown Court and its practices allows preparation to be tailored to the approach of the judge dealing with the case.
We offer a full range of representation options, from experienced in-house advocates and junior counsel through to leading King’s Counsel, allowing us to select the barrister whose expertise, advocacy style and seniority best fit your case and budget.
Meet the Sexual Offence Team
Tom Brymer
Partner and Solicitor
Stuart Matthews
Founding Partner, Solicitor-Advocate & Head of Private Crime
Scott Primmer
Partner & Solicitor
Kate Macnab
Senior Associate & Solicitor
Nathan Seymour-Hyde
Partner & Solicitor
Rob Jacques
Senior Associate Solicitor & Team Leader
Frequently Asked Questions
Reeds Solicitors is ranked Band 1 for Crime in the Thames Valley by Chambers UK and Top Tier in the South East by the Legal 500, the highest rankings either directory awards. Our Reading team is led by Partner Tom Brymer and supported by Stuart Matthews, Founding Partner and nationally recognised Legal 500 Leading Individual, who heads one of the largest specialist sexual offence teams in England. We have a proven track record of no further action decisions and not guilty verdicts in serious sexual offence cases, and our team has detailed knowledge of how Thames Valley Police investigate these cases and how Reading Crown Court approaches them.
In Berkshire, a first hearing in a sexual offence case takes place at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Castle Street. Because the overwhelming majority of sexual offences are either way or indictable only offences, these cases are almost always sent to Reading Crown Court at The Forbury for trial or sentence. The Magistrates’ Court does not conduct the trial itself in most sexual offence cases. It is essential to have specialist legal representation from the first hearing, as decisions about bail, disclosure, and initial case preparation made at that stage can have a significant bearing on the outcome.
Yes, without exception. Speaking to the police without specialist legal advice in a sexual offence case can have serious and lasting consequences. Saying the wrong thing, failing to choose words carefully, or providing information without understanding how it may be used can undermine your position. Anything said in interview can later be relied on as evidence by the prosecution.
Seeking advice before any interview allows your solicitor to obtain disclosure, advise on how to respond, and ensure your position is protected from the outset. We regularly advise clients before voluntary interviews and arrests across Reading and the wider Thames Valley area.
In many cases, steps can be taken before a charging decision is made. Early legal advice allows a solicitor to review the evidence, identify weaknesses, and make representations to the police or CPS. This can result in no further action being taken. Reeds has an established track record of securing no further action outcomes in Thames Valley cases through detailed pre-charge written representations that identify evidential weaknesses and provide the investigating officer and CPS with the defence perspective before any charging decision is reached.
All sexual offences are treated seriously by Reading Crown Court, and many convictions carry a starting point of a custodial sentence. Whether a prison sentence is imposed, and whether it can be suspended, will depend on the allegation, the evidence, and the circumstances of the case. Sentences of up to three years can in principle be suspended in appropriate cases.
Preparation at the earliest stage plays a critical role in the outcome. This includes agreeing the correct basis of plea if relevant, advancing effective mitigation, obtaining expert or medical reports where appropriate, and providing character references or evidence of the wider impact of a custodial sentence. Early instruction gives us the time to take these steps properly.
Costs vary depending on the work required and the stage the case has reached. As a minimum, we recommend an initial consultation with a specialist sexual offence solicitor to review your case, assess the evidence, and advise on the strengths and weaknesses of your position. From that point, we can offer fixed-fee packages or hourly rates, with payment by agreed instalments where appropriate. While we always seek to offer value for money, it should be acknowledged that we are a specialist team providing a high level of representation in the Thames Valley, and our fees reflect our expertise and our track record in serious sexual offence cases. Call 0118 902 7130 to discuss costs and options.
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