1998
Bolton 7 Case Concludes
Discrimination Legal UK Compensation
Seven gay and bisexual men — later known as the Bolton 7 — were convicted on 12 January 1998 at Bolton Crown Court of gross indecency and buggery for consensual group sex: the Sexual Offences Act 1956 still criminalised it when more than two men took part. A high-profile campaign led by OutRage! helped all seven avoid immediate custody, and in 2001 the Home Office paid £15,000 compensation to each of six men to settle their European Court of Human Rights case out of court.
Impact & Significance
Highlighted judicial failings and catalysed public and legal debate about outdated sexual offence laws.
Reference Record
- Date
- 1998
- Era
- 1990-1999
- Sources
- 2
Editorially reviewed — reviewed · last reviewed 2026-09-11.
Questions This Event Helps Answer
Q When was homosexuality decriminalised in the UK? The Sexual Offences Act 1967 partially decriminalised consensual sex between men in England and Wales, but UK-wide reform happened in stages and equality was not achieved by that Act alone. Q How did UK law criminalise homosexuality before 1967? Before 1967, English and Welsh law criminalised male same-sex intimacy through buggery and gross indecency offences, with punishments ranging from execution to imprisonment. Q How did UK age-of-consent reform change LGBTQ+ law? It moved the law from partial decriminalisation toward equal treatment by lowering and then equalising the age of consent.
