R v Tyrrell – Case Summary

R v Tyrrell

Crown Court

Citations: [1894] 1 QB 710.

Facts

The defendant was a teenaged minor who had sex with an older man. The older man was convicted of having unlawful carnal knowledge with a minor. The defendant was then charged with aiding and abetting that offence.

Issue(s)
  1. Could the defendant be guilty of aiding and abetting an offence committed against her?
Decision

The Crown Court held that the defendant could not be guilty of the offence.

This Case is Authority For…

Where the purpose of a criminal offence is to protect a class of persons, an individual of that class cannot be convicted as an accessory to a crime against themselves.