Sexual Exploitation

"Sexual exploitation is sustained through coercion, deception, and control. Our expert evidence helps the courts see the full picture—beyond myths and stereotypes—so victims are recognised and protected.

- Dr. Grace Robinson

What is Sexual Exploitation?

  • Sexual exploitation involves causing or facilitating another person to engage in sexual activity or imagery for someone else’s gain through force, coercion, deception or abuse of power.
  • It includes child sexual exploitation (CSE), exploitation linked to trafficking, sexual exploitation within domestic servitude, and exploitation facilitated online (e.g., grooming, image-based abuse).

Who is Affected by Sexual Exploitation?

  • Children and adults of any gender or background can be victims; marginalised groups and those with prior trauma, care-experience, homelessness, or insecure immigration status face heightened risk.
  • Offenders may be individuals, intimate partners, peers, family members, or organised networks.

Relationship Between Modern Slavery and Sexual Exploitation

  • Sexual exploitation is a core form of modern slavery and frequently overlaps with trafficking, forced labour, and coercive control.
  • Exploitation may occur without cross-border movement; trafficking involves recruitment/transport/harbouring for exploitation.

Examples of Sexual Exploitation in the UK

  • The sexual exploitation of children by men in Rochdale
  • Children groomed online, then exploited in person by individuals or groups.
  • Adults coerced by partners into commercial sex through violence, debt, or substance dependency.
  • Victims moved between addresses/hotels by controllers for sexual services. 

  • Controlling relationships; sudden access to money, transport or accommodation controlled by others.
  • Unexplained gifts, multiple phones, secrecy about locations; frequent hotel/B&B stays.
  • Physical injuries, STIs, pregnancy, substance misuse, or significant distress/dissociation.
  • For children: periods missing from home/care; association with older peers/adults; dramatic changes in appearance or behaviour.

  • Targeted grooming: exploiters identify and befriend victims through attention, gifts, or promises of affection, safety, or opportunity.
  • Exchange or expectation: sexual activity is demanded in return for money, protection, drugs, accommodation, or basic needs.
  • Power imbalance: exploiters hold control through age, gender, social status, or emotional manipulation.
  • Isolation: victims are separated from support networks, families, or communities, often moved between locations.
  • Coercion and control: threats, blackmail, debt, or violence are used to maintain compliance.
  • Multiple perpetrators: organised networks or “boyfriend” models involving group offending and shared victims.
  • Trauma bonding: victims develop emotional attachment or loyalty to exploiters despite ongoing abuse.
  • Online facilitation: social media, messaging apps, and image-based abuse are used to recruit, advertise, and control victims.

  • Build trust with a trauma-informed, non-judgemental approach; avoid victim-blaming language.
  • Map coercion and control (who, how, where); record patterns, communications, payments, movements.
  • Coordinate with statutory and third-sector partners (police, social care, health, specialist NGOs).
  • Refer to the NRM and ensure safeguarding, safety planning, and independent advocacy.

  • Section 45 provides a defence where offending is a direct consequence of exploitation and compulsion (with distinct tests for adults/children).
  • We assess grooming, coercion, threats, and trauma responses to determine links between exploitation and alleged offending (e.g., controlling prostitution for gain, brothel-keeping, immigration/ID offences).

  • Provide impartial assessments of exploitation dynamics, grooming methods, coercive control, trauma impact, and victim vulnerability.
  • Contextualise behaviours frequently misinterpreted as “choice” (e.g., returning to exploiters, non-compliance, late disclosure).

  1. Contact us to discuss the case issues.

  2. Agree scope and timelines.

  3. Share case materials (police files, ABE/ABE-style interviews, digital evidence, NRM papers).

  4. We review materials, assess your client, and deliver a court-compliant report..

  5. We can attend hearings to give evidence as required.

  • Specify the questions to be addressed; provide full disclosure (including digital downloads, health records).
  • Consider psychological/psychiatric input—especially where trauma, PTSD, or dissociation are indicated.
  • Allow sufficient time for analysis and for trauma-informed assessment.

Founded by Dr Grace Robinson in 2019.

OUR PRIMARY AIM IS TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND INCREASE AWARENESS OF MODERN SLAVERY.

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