Victorian Current Acts

CRIMES ACT 1958 - SECT 52D

    (1)     A person (A) commits an offence if—

        (a)     A intentionally engages in an activity; and

        (b)     the activity is sexual; and

        (c)     another person (B) is present when A engages in the activity; and

        (d)     A knows that B is, or probably is, present when A engages in the activity; and

        (e)     B has a cognitive impairment or mental illness; and

        (f)     A—

              (i)     provides treatment or support services to B; or

              (ii)     is a worker for a service provider that provides treatment or support services to B; and

        (g)     engaging in the activity in the presence of B is contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct.

    (2)     A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable to level 6 imprisonment (5 years maximum).

    (3)     Whether or not engaging in the activity in the presence of B is contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct depends on the circumstances.

    (4)     For the purposes of subsection (3)—

        (a)     the circumstances include—

              (i)     the purpose of the activity; and

              (ii)     whether A seeks or gets sexual arousal or sexual gratification from engaging in the activity or from the presence of B;

        (b)     the circumstances do not include—

              (i)     whether B consents—

    (A)     to being present when A engages in the activity; or

    (B)     to A engaging in the activity; or

              (ii)     whether A believes that B consents—

    (A)     to being present when A engages in the activity; or

    (B)     to A engaging in the activity.

Notes

1     An exception applies to this offence—see section 52G.

2     Defences apply to this offence—see sections 52H, 52I and  52J.

3     A mistaken but honest and reasonable belief of certain matters is not a defence against this offence—see  section 52K.

S. 52E inserted by No. 47/2016 s. 16.