Section 66F Crimes Act 1900
Sexual Offences Against Persons with a Cognitive Impairment

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Responsible person having sexual intercourse with a cognitively impaired person is an offence under section 66F(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:

  1. You were a person responsible for the care of a cognitively impaired person, and,
  2. You had sexual intercourse with that person.

A person has a cognitive impairment if he or she has any of the following which requires supervision or social habilitation in connection with life activities:

  1. An intellectual disability,
  2. A developmental disorder, including autism spectrum disorder,
  3. A neurological disorder,
  4. Dementia,
  5. A severe mental illness, or,
  6. Brain injury.

You were ‘responsible for the care of’ a person with a cognitive impairment if you provided care to that person:

  1. At a facility where persons with cognitive impairments are detained, reside or attend, or,
  2. At the home of the person in the course of a program under which any such facility or other government or community organisation provides care to persons with cognitive impairments.

‘Sexual intercourse’ is defined as:

  1. The penetration to any extent of a female’s genitalia, or the anus of any person by any part of, or object used by, another person,
  2. The introduction of a penis into the mouth of another person,
  3. Cunnilingus, or,
  4. The continuation of any of these activities.

It is immaterial whether the cognitively impaired person was actually under your care at the time of the sexual intercourse.

You are not guilty of the offence if you establish ‘on the balance of probabilities’ that:

  1. You did not know the person had a cognitive impairment,
  2. You were married to, or were the de facto partner of, the person, or,
  3. Your conduct was carried out for a proper medical or hygienic purpose.

Duress is a legal defence to the charge.


Taking advantage of a person’s cognitive impairment to have sexual intercourse is an offence under section 66F(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) which carries a maximum penalty of 8 years in prison.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that you took advantage of a person’s cognitive impairment to have sexual intercourse with her or him.

A person has a cognitive impairment if he or she has any of the following which requires supervision or social habilitation in connection with life activities:

  1. An intellectual disability,
  2. A developmental disorder, including autism spectrum disorder,
  3. A neurological disorder,
  4. Dementia,
  5. A severe mental illness, or,
  6. Brain injury.

‘Sexual intercourse’ is defined as:

  1. The penetration to any extent of a female’s genitalia, or the anus of any person by any part of, or object used by, another person
  2. The introduction of a penis into the mouth of another person
  3. Cunnilingus, or
  4. The continuation of any of these activities

Whether you ‘took advantage’ of the person’s cognitive impairment is a matter for the fact-finder.

You are not guilty of the offence if you establish ‘on the balance of probabilities’ that:

  1. You did not know the person had a cognitive impairment,
  2. You were married to, or were the de facto partner of, the person, or,
  3. Your conduct was carried out for a proper medical or hygienic purpose.

Duress is a legal defence to the charge.

For expert advice and outstanding representation in relation to sexual offences, call Sydney Criminal Lawyers® today on (02) 9261 8881 and let our experienced defence team help you.

The Legislation

Section 66F of the Crimes Act 1900 deals with the offence of ‘Sexual Offences Cognitive Impairment’ and reads as follows:

66F Sexual Offences Cognitive Impairment

(1) Meaning of “person responsible for care” For the purposes of this section, a person is responsible for the care of a person who has a cognitive impairment if the person provides care to that person:
(a) at a facility at which persons with a cognitive impairment are detained, reside or attend, or
(b) at the home of that person in the course of a program under which any such facility or other government or community organisation provides care to persons with a cognitive impairment.

The care of a person with a cognitive impairment includes voluntary care, health professional care, education, home care and supervision.

(2) Sexual intercourse: person responsible for care A person:
(a) who has sexual intercourse with a person who has a cognitive impairment, and
(b) who is responsible for the care of that person (whether generally or at the time of the sexual intercourse),
is guilty of an offence.

Maximum penalty: imprisonment for 10 years.

(3) Sexual intercourse: taking advantage of impairment A person who has sexual intercourse with a person who has a cognitive impairment, with the intention of taking advantage of that person’s cognitive impairment, is guilty of an offence.

Maximum penalty: imprisonment for 8 years.

(5) Consent not a defence for sexual intercourse The consent of a person who has a cognitive impairment is not a defence to a charge for an offence under subsection (2) or (3) (or under section 344A in connection with such an offence).

(6) Consent not a defence for sexual touching or sexual act The consent of a person who has a cognitive impairment is not a defence to a charge for an offence under section 61KC, 61KD, 61KE or 61KF (or under section 344A in connection with such an offence) if:
(a) the accused was responsible for the care of that person (whether generally or at the time of the conduct constituting the offence), or
(b) the accused engaged in the conduct constituting the offence with the intention of taking advantage of that person’s cognitive impairment.

(7) Defences It is a defence to a charge for an offence under subsection (2) or (3) (or under section 344A in connection with such an offence) or an offence referred to in subsection (6) in which the prosecution relies on the operation of that subsection:
(a) if, at the time of the conduct constituting the offence:
(i) the accused did not know the person to whom the charge relates had a cognitive impairment, or
(ii) the accused was married to the person to whom the charge relates or was the de facto partner of that person, or
(b) if the act constituting the offence was carried out for any proper medical or hygienic purpose.

(8) Approval of Attorney General for prosecution A prosecution for any of the following offences may not be commenced without the approval of the Attorney General:
(a) an offence under subsection (2) or (3) (or under section 344A in connection with such an offence),
(b) an offence referred to in subsection (6) in which the prosecution relies on the operation of that subsection.

Why Choose Sydney Criminal Lawyers®?

Going to court can be nerve-racking, but having a strong and compassionate legal team behind you can make the experience significantly easier to deal with.

Here are 12 reasons to choose our multi-award winning legal team:

  1. Proven Track Record of Exceptional Results

    Sydney Criminal Lawyers® consistently achieves outcomes which are in the highest percentile of the Judicial Commission’s sentencing statistics for criminal cases.

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    We also consistently win appeals in the District and Supreme Courts (including the NSWCCA) after clients have received unsatisfactory results with other law firms in the lower courts.We are one of the few firms to achieve successful criminal law appeals in the High Court of Australia.

    Where our clients wish to plead guilty, we frequently achieve ‘dismissals’ and ‘non convictions’ in cases where other lawyers have advised there is no chance of doing so.

  2. Highest Level of Client Satisfaction

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  3. Australia’s Most Awarded Criminal Law Firm

    We have received more awards and accolades than any other criminal law firm in Australia. Our team has been awarded “Criminal Defence Firm of the Year in Australia” in a number of prestigious and competitive awards programs for several years running.

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  5. Free First Appointment

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  7. All NSW Courts

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  8. Accredited Specialists

    Our entire firm is exclusively dedicated to criminal law – which makes us true specialists.

    All of our lawyers have years of experience representing clients in criminal cases, and our principal has been certified by the Law Society of NSW as an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist since 2005.

    An ‘Accredited Specialist’ is a lawyer who has practised for at least 5 years in a particular field of law (such as criminal law), has passed a rigorous assessment process conducted by the Law Society of NSW, and has been selected by the Specialist Accreditation Committee of the Law Society as an expert in the field.

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  12. Convenience

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    If you are going to court and wish to arrange a free first consultation, call our 24 hour hotline on (02) 9261 8881 or send us an email at info@sydneycriminallawyers.com.au.

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