Sexual Offences Act 1956

Abduction

17 Abduction of woman by force or for the sake of her property

(1) It is felony for a person to take away or detain a woman against her will with the intention that she shall marry or have unlawful sexual intercourse with that or any other person, if she is so taken away or detained either by force or for the sake of her property or expectations of property.

(2) In the foregoing subsection, the reference to a woman's expectations of property relates only to property of a person to whom she is next of kin or one of the next of kin, and " property " includes any interest in property.

18 Fraudulent abduction of heiress from parent or guardian

(1) It is felony for a person to take or detain a girl under the age of twenty-one out of the possession of her parent or guardian against his will, if she has property or expectations of property and is so taken or detained by fraud and with the intention that she shall marry or have unlawful sexual intercourse with that or any other person.

(2) In the foregoing subsection, the reference to a girl's expectations of property relates only to property of a person to whom she is next of kin or one of the next of kin, " property " includes any interest in property and " guardian " means any person having the lawful care or charge of the girl.

19 Abduction of unmarried girl under eighteen from parent or guardian

(1) It is an offence, subject to the exception mentioned in this section, for a person to take an unmarried girl under the age of eighteen out of the possession of her parent or guardian against his will, if she is so taken with the intention that she shall have unlawful sexual intercourse with men or with a particular man.

(2) A person is not guilty of an offence under this section because he takes such a girl out of the possession of her parent or guardian as mentioned above, if he believes her to be of the age of eighteen or over and has reasonable cause for the belief.

(3) In this section " guardian" means any person having the lawful care or charge of the girl.

20 Abduction of unmarried girl under sixteen from parent or guardian

(1) It is an offence for a person acting without lawful authority or excuse to take an unmarried girl under the age of sixteen out of the possession of her parent or guardian against his will.

(2) In the foregoing subsection " guardian " means any person having the lawful care or charge of the girl.

21 Abduction of defective from parent or guardian

(1) It is an offence, subject to the exception mentioned in this section, for a person to take a woman who is a defective out of the possession of her parent or guardian against his will, if she is so taken with the intention that she shall have unlawful sexual intercourse with men or with a particular man.

(2) A person is not guilty of an offence under this section because he takes such a woman out of the possession of her parent or guardian as mentioned above, if he does not know and has no reason to suspect her to be a defective.

(3) In this section " guardian " means any person having the lawful care or charge of the woman.