{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sexual-offences-act-2003/section-15A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sexual-offences-act-2003/section-15A.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/42",
  "legislation_title": "Sexual Offences Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sexual-offences-act-2003",
  "path": "section/15A",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "15A",
  "heading": "Sexual communication with a child",
  "text": "(1) A person aged 18 or over (A) commits an offence if—\n(a) for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, A intentionally communicates with another person (B),\n(b) the communication is sexual or is intended to encourage B to make (whether to A or to another) a communication that is sexual, and\n(c) B is under 16 and A does not reasonably believe that B is 16 or over.\n(2) For the purposes of this section, a communication is sexual if—\n(a) any part of it relates to sexual activity, or\n(b) a reasonable person would, in all the circumstances but regardless of any person's purpose, consider any part of the communication to be sexual;\nand in paragraph (a) “sexual activity” means an activity that a reasonable person would, in all the circumstances but regardless of any person's purpose, consider to be sexual.\n(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—\n(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine or both;\n(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 15A inserted (E.W.) (3.4.2017) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 67, 88(1) (with s. 86(14)(15)); S.I. 2017/451, reg. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 15A(3)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/15A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:17:48.870823+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."
}