What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault involves sexual touching of another person without their consent. Legally, it is defined as:
“One person intentionally touching another sexually without the other’s consent and without a reasonable belief in that consent.”
Sexual assault is a serious criminal offence, carrying a maximum sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment. A more severe offence, known as sexual assault by penetration (commonly referred to as rape), involves non-consensual sexual penetration with a part of the body or an object and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.