Bolton 7
The Bolton 7 were a group of Gay and Bisexual men who were convicted January 12 before Judge Michael Lever at Bolton Crown Court Under the 1967 Sexual Offences Act. They were convicted because more than two men had sex together which was at the time illegal in the eyes of the law if more than two persons take part in gay sex or are present. Equivalent heterosexual behavior was not a crime.
During sentencing on 20 February 1998 Gary Abdie, David Godfrey, Mark Love and Jonathan Moore, and Craig Turner were given probation and community service orders due to their young age (although all were over 18 in court, however Craig Turner was 17 when the acts took place). The Judge gave Norman Williams (33) a two-year suspended prison sentence and Terry Connell (55) received a nine-month suspended sentence, and was ordered to pay £500 towards the cost of the prosecution.
Despite all men remaining convcted all walked free from court due to a high profile campaign led by gay human rights group OutRage!.
The Sexual Offences Act was amended by the Labour Government in 2003. Due to the new amendments, sex between one or more gay men is no longer a crime in the United Kingdom.