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Assault, ABH & GBH Defence

If you or someone you know is under investigation or being prosecuted for common assault, battery, actual bodily harm (ABH) or grievous bodily harm (GBH), contact our criminal defence specialists for advice. We provide expert 24/7 legal advice for people who need our assistance.

These types of offences are often referred to as ‘offences against the person’ because the law which covers them is called the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

The consequences of being convicted for a violent offence can affect the rest of your life. For the most serious type of offence – section 18 GBH – you could face up to life imprisonment. For all offences against the person, you could be fined, receive a penalty such as a prison sentence or community service, and will receive a criminal record.

But, with the right advice and defence strategy, you have the best possible chance of reducing the impact on your life. We regularly help people:

At the police station after they’ve been arrested or invited for a voluntary interview under caution
During criminal investigations
At court

Offences against the person are often not open-and-shut cases. There are many ways you can challenge the evidence and even get the case dropped altogether.

Having a solicitor to help you could mean the difference between being prosecuted or released with no further action taken. We are often able to achieve outcomes such as:

Getting the investigation or charges dropped.
Receiving a ‘not guilty’ verdict at court.
Receiving a reduced sentence and less serious penalties (e.g. getting charged with battery instead of ABH).

Our criminal lawyers are in the top 10 firms nationally, based on client feedback at Review Solicitors. So, you can trust us to do right by you.

We take many of our clients on a Legal Aid basis. Talk to us to find out whether you can get Legal Aid.

Get in touch with our assault, ABH and GBH defence charge solicitors

If you or someone you know needs fast, expert criminal law advice and defence at the police station, during an investigation or at court, get in touch with our assault, ABH and GBH solicitors in Liverpool, Runcorn or Warrington.

Call 03444 124348 | Ask us a Question

For urgent out of hours matters, call FREEPHONE 0808 196 1790

We can travel across the country to assist people at the police station or at court. Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Our police station representation service is free of charge. It is your legal right to have representation at the police station.

We advise that you do not answer the police’s questions until we are by your side to help you – just tell the police you want to talk to your solicitor at Bell Lamb & Joynson.

This includes if you have been invited for a voluntary interview under caution – these interviews are not casual chats.

Remember, anything you say during a police interview could be used to charge you or as evidence in court.

How our offences against the person defence lawyers can help

Common assault & battery

Common assault is committed when a person intentionally causes another person to fear immediate unlawful violence. There doesn’t have to be physical contact for an action to be an assault – e.g. shouting that you’re going to punch someone could be an assault. If there is physical contact, this is called ‘battery’.

Common assault and battery are dealt with by the Magistrates’ Court, but conviction could still result in a prison sentence of up to six months, a community order and/or a hefty fine of up to £5,000. So, having a lawyer who specialises in common assault and battery on your side to argue against the charges is helpful.

Actual bodily harm (ABH)

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) is where a person intentionally or recklessly assaults someone else, causing actual bodily harm. Actual bodily harm covers injuries that are more serious than battery but less serious than GBH.

It doesn’t matter whether the person intends to cause the amount of harm that they did, only that they intended to use ‘unlawful force’. For example, if you push someone thinking, they will just stumble, but they trip and break their nose; this could be ABH.

So, ABH is a very serious offence and one that you can end up being prosecuted for even if the victim’s injuries were just a mistake.

If convicted of ABH, you could face up to five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine (if prosecuted in the Crown Court). As such, make sure you speak to our solicitors for the best possible defence strategy.

Section 20 grievous bodily harm (GBH)

There are two types of grievous bodily harm (GBH). The less serious type is called section 20 and applies where a person injures or wounds another person, and the injuries are too severe to be ABH. For example, causing cuts and bruises to a person may be ABH, but a stab wound is more likely to be GBH.

To convict someone of section 20 GBH, the prosecution needs to prove that they intentionally or recklessly caused ‘some harm’ to the victim. Causing someone serious psychiatric injury can also count as GBH.

The maximum penalty for section 20 GBH is five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine (if prosecuted in the Crown Court). So, it is very important to have a solicitor to help you at the police station and/or at court to try to minimise the impact on your life.

Section 18 grievous bodily harm (GBH)

Section 18 GBH is the most serious type of non-lethal assault. A person can be convicted for section 18 GBH, where they intentionally cause really serious bodily harm to the victim.

For example, causing an injury that results in broken bones, substantial blood loss, serious psychiatric injury and long-term disabilities may be classified as section 18 GBH.

Section 18 GBH can only be prosecuted in the Crown Court, and the maximum sentence is life imprisonment. If the victim later dies of their injuries, the charges could even be increased to murder. As such, make sure you seek out legal advice as soon as possible to start putting together a defence strategy.

Racially or religiously aggravated assault

The penalties for racially or religiously aggravated assault can attract higher sentences. For example, the maximum sentence for racially or religiously aggravated ABH is seven years’ imprisonment (rather than the standard five years).

Our assault solicitors can also advise people accused of racially or religiously aggravated assault.

Why choose us to defend assault, battery, ABH and GBH allegations?

As one of the top Criminal Law teams in the country, according to client reviews and case volume, you can trust us to do our best for you.

Visit our Criminal Law Solicitors page for more information about our reviews, skills and accreditations.