Part I SEXUAL OFFENCES

Procuring, prostitution etc.

9 Permitting girl to use premises for intercourse.

(1)

Any person who, being the owner or occupier of any premises, or having, or acting or assisting in, the management or control of any premises, induces or knowingly suffers any girl of such age as is mentioned in this subsection to resort to or be in or upon such premises for the purpose of having unlawful sexual intercourse with men or with a particular man—

(a)

if such girl is under the age of 13 years, shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life; and

(b)

if such girl is of or over the age of 13 years and under the age of 16 years, shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.

(2)

It shall be a defence to a charge F1in proceedings under this section that the person so charged F2. . . had reasonable cause to believe that the girl was of or over the age of 16 years.

F3(2A)

But the defence under subsection (2) is not available to the person so charged if—

(a)

that person has previously been charged by the police with a relevant sexual offence;F4. . .

F5(aa)

that person has a previous conviction for a relevant foreign offence committed against a person under the age of 16 F6and the court considers it appropriate for the conviction to have that effect; or

(b)

there is in force in respect of that person a risk of sexual harm order.

(3)

In subsection F7(2A) above—

(a)

“a relevant sexual offence” has the same meaning as in section 39(5)(a) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (asp 9); F8. . .

F9(aa)

“a previous conviction for a relevant foreign offence” has the same meaning as in section 39(5)(aa) of that Act; and

(b)

“a risk of sexual harm order” has the same meaning as in section 39(5)(b) of that Act.