[chris_wot]

In that case, consent was mutually given and if the other party then changes their mind and asks the other to stop, then consent ceases, right?

If the other party is not signalled that consent was withdrawn, then it is, in my mind, a bit tricky. It means that consent was no longer there, but the other party didn't have any way of knowing. I think it's fair to say that no assault occurred, but it's still damaging to the one no longer wanting to have sex. In that case it's really unfortunate for both parties :-(

[taneq]

How is this in any way tricky? Consent is something the giving of which involves clear communication, not just something that exists in the mind of one of the parties. Likewise, consent can't just 'cease', it has to be withdrawn, which involves communicating the withdrawal to all parties concerned.

It's like signing up for a phone contract, then deciding you don't want it any more and stopping using the phone. If you don't tell the provider then they're completely within their rights to keep billing you.

[chris_wot]

Fair point.