Kidnap and False Imprisonment Defence Lawyers

If you have been accused of committing a kidnapping offence, it is vital that you seek the help of an experienced criminal defence solicitor as early as possible. Those who commit a kidnapping offence often commit the related common law offence of false imprisonment as well. Whilst technically different, both offences involve the removal or restriction of another person’s freedom.

Crimes of this nature are treated incredibly seriously in court and can carry a substantial prison sentence for those found guilty. When you instruct Clifford Johnston & Co to represent you in court, you can trust that we will put together a watertight defence case with the aim of either seeing the charges against you dropped, or facilitating a lighter sentence than you may otherwise have received.

Our expert team of criminal law solicitors have the knowledge, experience and tenacity to ensure the outcome of your case is as favourable as possible. If you are able to cooperate with us, we will work tirelessly to uncover all of the necessary evidence to support your defence. To find out more about how we can help you as you face charges for kidnapping or false imprisonment, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

What is Kidnapping?

Kidnapping is the act of taking another person from one location to another without their consent and without good legal reason to do so. A kidnapper may use force or fraud to take a person away against their will, and they will often have a particular reason for kidnapping the individual.

Some of the reasons that drive a person to commit a kidnapping offence include:

• Seeking the receipt of ransom money
• Terrorising or torturing the victim
• Interfering with a governmental or political function
• Subjecting the victim to some form of servitude

It is often the case that a kidnapping offence will lead to a false imprisonment offence, whereby the victim is detained or confined in the location they were taken to by the kidnapper.

What is False Imprisonment?

False imprisonment is the act of unlawfully limiting the freedom of an individual by forcing them to remain at a location against their will. Some examples of false imprisonment include:

• Keeping an individual in a locked room against their will, even if the room is within their own house
• Locking a person inside a house, including their own, and removing any means of them escaping
• A security guard detaining a person who is suspected of theft and holding them for an unreasonable amount of time
• An employer detaining an employee in the workplace for an unreasonable amount of time in order to question them about a suspected crime

If you have been accused of false imprisonment it is imperative that you instruct an experienced criminal justice solicitor as soon as possible. Whether you have been falsely accused or are guilty of falsely imprisoning someone, our expert team will work towards the most favourable outcome for your case.

What are the sentencing guidelines for Kidnapping and False Imprisonment?

The allegations of kidnapping and false imprisonment are indictable only, which means they can only be tried in the Crown Court. There are a number of aggravating factors to be taken into consideration when sentencing is being decided for a kidnapping or false imprisonment offence, including:

• The degree of planning involved
• The vulnerability of the victim(s)
• The existence of a ransom demand
• The number of offenders involved
• The addition of other offences
• The culpability of the offender
• The use of a weapon
• The use of violence
• The mental, physical and emotional impact on the victim

Both kidnapping and false imprisonment are very serious offences which can carry substantial prison sentences. For example, a meticulously planned kidnapping where the victim is falsely imprisoned and held as a hostage is likely to incur a sentence in excess of eight years imprisonment. If there were any other aggravating factors involved, such as the use of a weapon, the sentence is very likely to be much lengthier.

What line of defence is possible in a Kidnapping offence?

When putting together your defence case to present in court, we will gather all available evidence in order to determine the best line of defence. Some of the most common defence strategies in a kidnapping or false imprisonment case include:

• The alleged victim consented to go with you
• You were forced to commit the offence under duress
• You did not commit the offence in question
• You unintentionally locked the person in a room

This list is not exhaustive, and we will do our utmost to ensure that we adopt the most appropriate line of defence to ensure the most favourable outcome for you. To find out more about how we can help you to navigate your arrest and trial for kidnapping or false imprisonment, please don’t hesitate to contact us and one of our expert criminal defence lawyers will be happy to assist.

Contact our Lawyers for Kidnapping & False Imprisonment today

We are proud to offer expert criminal law services nationally which are affordable and cost-effective.

By choosing to work with us, you will have an exceptional team fighting your corner.

Our Lawyers for Assault Charges have an exceptional level of expertise in kidnapping and false imprisonment cases and are an integral department within our law firm of Criminal Solicitors in Manchester.

Talk to Clifford Johnston & Co. today.