Assault offences span a wide range of different scenarios and types. These include:

Common assault - Section 39

Common assault involves either unlawful violence against someone or making them fear that unlawful violence will be imminently used against them. There doesn't necessarily need to be an injury for someone to be accused or convicted of common assault.

Assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) - Section 47

This offence involves harm being done to the victim, which may or may not be permanent. For example, bruises and scratches could be considered ABH.

Assault causing unlawful wounds or inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) - Section 20

This offence is where the victim is unlawfully or maliciously wounded in a way that causes 'really serious' harm. Examples of this could be broken bones, injuries that cause disfigurement, cause significant blood loss or cause some loss of one or more of the senses.

Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent - Section 18

This is the most serious assault offence and occurs when there is proven intent to cause injury in any of all of a variety of ways, such as making threats of attack beforehand, deliberately selecting a weapon for use in the attack, a repeated attack or kicking the victim's head.

There may be various defences that can be used if you are charged with assault, depending on the circumstances involved. Your assault lawyer will discuss the situation with you and offer specialist advice on the next steps so you can make an informed choice on the route to take.