Assault & Violence
Common assault, ABH, GBH, affray and violent disorder.
Assault and violent offences cover a wide spectrum — from common assault at the lower end to grievous bodily harm with intent at the most serious. The appropriate charge and the potential sentence depend on the nature of the act, the injuries sustained, the intent of the defendant, and other aggravating and mitigating factors. BW Solicitors provides expert private criminal defence for all assault and violence charges at Magistrates Courts and Crown Courts across Ilford and London.
Types of Assault and Violence Offences
The principal assault offences in England and Wales are contained in the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Each carries a different maximum sentence and is tried in a different court. Understanding the precise charge and its implications is the first step in building an effective defence.
- Common assault (Section 39 Criminal Justice Act 1988) — Magistrates Court, maximum 6 months
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm — ABH (Section 47 OAPA 1861) — either-way, maximum 5 years
- Unlawful wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm — GBH (Section 20 OAPA 1861) — either-way, maximum 5 years
- Wounding or causing GBH with intent (Section 18 OAPA 1861) — Crown Court only, maximum life imprisonment
- Affray, violent disorder and riot
- Possession of a weapon and knife crime offences
- Domestic assault
Defences to Assault Charges
There are a number of recognised defences to assault and violence charges, the most common of which is self-defence or defence of another. Where a defendant acts in self-defence, using reasonable and proportionate force in response to an actual or perceived threat, they are not guilty of any assault offence. Other potential defences include consent, accident, and where the prosecution cannot prove the required mental element of the offence. Our solicitors will carefully review the evidence and advise you on the strongest defence available.
- Self-defence — using reasonable and proportionate force
- Defence of another person
- Consent — where the complainant consented to the act
- Accident — no intent to cause harm
- Challenging the prosecution's identification evidence
- Challenging the reliability of witness evidence
Why Choose BW Solicitors?
Our criminal defence solicitors have extensive experience in assault and violence cases at both Magistrates Court and Crown Court level. We will review the prosecution evidence carefully, advise you honestly on your position, and represent you with determination at every stage. We serve clients across Ilford, East London and Greater London.