Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders convicted in the last five years of (a) rape and (b) sexual assaults against (i) adults and (ii) minors were sentenced to (A) no time in in custody, (B) up to 90 days in custody, (C) 91 to 180 days in custody, (D) 181 days to one year in custody, (E) more than one year to two years in custody, (F) more than two years to three years in custody, (G) more than three years to four years in custody, (H) more than four years to five years in custody, (I) more than five years to six years in custody, (J) more than six years to seven years in custody, (K) more than seven years to eight years in custody, (L) more than eight years to nine years in custody, (M) more than nine years to 10 years in custody, (N) more than 10 years to 15 years in custody, (O) more than 15 years to 20 years in custody and (P) more than 20 years in custody.

Sentencing is entirely a matter for our independent courts. When deciding what sentence to impose the courts take into account the circumstances of the offence and the offender, including any aggravating factors (e.g. previous convictions) and any mitigating factors (e.g. age and/or lack of maturity where it affects the responsibility of the offender), in line with any relevant sentencing guidelines issued by the independent Sentencing Council for England and Wales.

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 breaks down the offences of rape and sexual assault by victims who are aged under 13 and victims who are aged 13 or over. The number of offenders convicted of 1) rape of a victim aged 13 or over, contrary to section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, 2) rape of a child under 13, contrary to section 5 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, 3) sexual assault of a victim aged 13 or over, contrary to sections 2 and 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and 4) sexual assault of a child under 13, contrary to sections 6 and 7 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, broken down by the custodial sentence lengths requested, can be viewed in the table.