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Version status: In force | Document consolidation status: Updated to reflect all known changes
Version date: 7 February 2023 - onwards
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69. Possession of paedophile manual

(1) It is an offence to be in possession of any item that contains advice or guidance about abusing children sexually.

(2) It is a defence for a person (D) charged with an offence under this section -

(a) to prove that D had a legitimate reason for being in possession of the item;

(b) to prove that -

(i) D had not read, viewed or (as appropriate) listened to the item, and

(ii) D did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that it contained advice or guidance about abusing children sexually; or

(c) to prove that -

(i) the item was sent to D without any request made by D or on D's behalf, and

(ii) D did not keep it for an unreasonable time.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable -

(a) on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or to a fine, or to both;

(b) on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the

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