{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sexual-offences-act-2003/section-3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sexual-offences-act-2003/section-3.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2003/42",
  "legislation_title": "Sexual Offences Act 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/sexual-offences-act-2003",
  "path": "section/3",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "3",
  "heading": "Sexual assault",
  "text": "(1) A person (A) commits an offence if—\n(a) he intentionally touches another person (B),\n(b) the touching is sexual,\n(c) B does not consent to the touching, and\n(d) A does not reasonably believe that B consents.\n(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.\n(3) Sections 75 and 76 apply to an offence under this section.\n(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—\n(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;\n(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/3",
    "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."
}