{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1988/section-160A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1988/section-160A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1988/33",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Justice Act 1988",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-justice-act-1988",
  "path": "section/160A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "160A",
  "heading": "Marriage and other relationships",
  "text": "(1) This section applies where, in proceedings for an offence under section 160 relating to an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, the defendant proves that the photograph was of the child aged 16 or over, and that at the time of the offence charged the child and he—\n(a) were married or civil partners of each other , or\n(b) lived together as partners in an enduring family relationship.\n(2) This section also applies where, in proceedings for an offence under section 160 relating to an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, the defendant proves that the photograph was of the child aged 16 or over, and that at the time when he obtained it the child and he—\n(a) were married or civil partners of each other , or\n(b) lived together as partners in an enduring family relationship.\n(3) This section applies whether the photograph or pseudo-photograph showed the child alone or with the defendant, but not if it showed any other person.\n(4) If sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue as to whether the child consented to the photograph or pseudo-photograph being in the defendant’s possession, or as to whether the defendant reasonably believed that the child so consented, the defendant is not guilty of the offence unless it is proved that the child did not so consent and that the defendant did not reasonably believe that the child so consented.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 160A inserted (1.5.2004) by Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42), ss. 45(4), 141; S.I. 2004/874, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 160A inserted (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 69(2), 182(5) (with s. 180, Sch. 22); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. para. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 160A(1)(a)(2)(a) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 261(1), 263, Sch. 27 para. 127; S.I. 2005/3175, art. 2(1)(2), Sch. 1 (subject to art. 2(3)-(5))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/section/160A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:47:56.668542+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}