What is the state of our grooming laws?

Those demands for reviews and rethinks have come back again with the conviction of one comedian Russell Brand for rape and sexual assault - and separate accusations of sexual misconduct against another one, David Walliams. He denies being a sexual predator and is not facing a criminal investigation.
The modern landscape of sexual offences in England and Wales is complicated - but it is far more nuanced than it once was because of major changes over the last two decades. There is some confusion in public debate over what counts as grooming - but in general it's understood in the criminal courts to refer to situations where a predator builds a relationship of trust with a child target in order to prepare the ground for sexual activity.
Given the end goal, that relationship will often involve a great deal of manipulation - usually emotional, often subtle and regularly coercive. Since 2003 it has been an offence for an adult to meet a child "following sexual grooming" and the maximum sentence is 10 years.
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