# The Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, Article 8: Causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent


(1) A person (A) commits an offence if—
(a) he intentionally causes another person (B) to engage in an activity,
(b) the activity is sexual,
(c) B does not consent to engaging in the activity, and
(d) A does not reasonably believe that B consents.
(2) Whether a belief is reasonable is to be determined having regard to all the circumstances, including any steps A has taken to ascertain whether B consents.
(3) Articles 9 and 10 apply to an offence under this Article.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under this Article, if the activity caused 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.
(5) Unless paragraph (4) applies, a person guilty of an offence under this Article is liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2008/9780110800936/article/8 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/draft-sexual-offences-northern-ireland-order-2008/article-8
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.