R v Prince (1875) LR 2 CCR 154

The appellant was charged with taking an unmarried girl under the age of 16 out of the possession of her father contrary to s.55 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. He knew that the girl was in the custody of her father but he believed on reasonable grounds that the girl was aged 18.

Held:

His conviction was upheld. The offence was one of strict liability as to age and therefore his reasonable belief was no defence.

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