Assault is a serious area of criminal law, which has costly implications if the case is mismanaged.
Common assault is any situation in which an individual puts another person in fear of immediate violence. It’s important to understand that you can be charged with assault even if you haven’t touched a person physically. In the eyes of the law, a person only has to make someone fear for their safety to be charged.
FAQs
Put simply, common assault is any situation in which an individual has put another person in fear of immediate violence. It’s important to understand that you can be charged with assault even if you haven’t touched a person physically. In the eyes of the law, a person only has to make another fear for their safety to be charged with this offence.
There are four basic forms of assault, which include:
These offences above cover everything from threatening words to severe physical attacks that leave the victim permanently disfigured or disabled.
The penalties for assault are determined by the type of the form and severity of the assault caused. Typically, punishments include:
| Nature of activity | Maximum Sentence |
|---|---|
| Common Assault | High level community order |
| Sexual Assault | 4 years’ custody (starting point) |
| ABH | 2 years and 6 months’ custody (starting point) |
| GBH | 12 years’ custody (starting point) |
If the assault was racially or discriminatory driven the court will impose increased punishments, and it will most likely be classed as a more severe crime.
The cost of defending an assault charge will depend on the severity of the charges and the strength of evidence for and against you. In any case regarding assault, our criminal defence solicitors will require an initial consultation first.
This consultation is charged at £200 + VAT (£240), and for this price, you will get the following:
Please note, if you or someone you know is currently being held in police custody we can help. Our solicitors can provide police station representation to ensure you don’t incriminate yourself whilst under investigation. We charge a rate of £305-550 + VAT per hour, depending on the legal representative’s seniority. To arrange your consultation, please call us on 0203 007 5500.
Regardless of the type of assault charge, it’s always advised to seek the advice of a solicitor.
By instructing a criminal solicitor who specialises in assault cases, it will ensure you have:
We are currently unable to offer legal aid in any capacity as we lack the necessary legal aid certificate. We also don’t provide pro bono work at present.
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll help you arrange an initial consultation. You’ll get:
We know legal matters can be stressful, but we’re always here to help.
No fee surprises. With monthly itemised billing and a range of fee options from fixed fees to deferred fee arrangements, we’ll help you keep costs down.
No chat bots or lengthy phone menus. Speak directly to a member of our team every time you contact us.
We’ll reply to any questions you have within 24 business hours so you’ll have the information you need to make the right decisions.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 passed into law in December last year, but many changes are being gradually phased into effect, with April 2026 seeing…
Criminal convictions can have lasting consequences on immigration applications to the UK. When applying, the Home Office will conducts checks on any applicant’s criminal record.
If you are Jewish and going through a divorce, obtaining a civil divorce may not be enough. Under Jewish law, a marriage is only dissolved…
The law on Islamic divorces differs significantly from conventional divorce law in England and Wales. Many muslim couples fall into the trap of mistakenly believing…
With potential cohabitation reforms on the horizon, find out what cohabitation really means, why ‘common law marriage’ is a myth, and how to protect yourself.
In November 2025, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced a slate of changes to the UK immigration system and how long it takes to achieve…
Divorce isn’t just about ending a relationship; it’s about dividing two lives that have been financially intertwined for years. Most people focus on the home,…
Britton and Time Solicitors is proud to announce the acquisition of Hennings Solicitors, a well-respected legal practice based in Brighton. This marks an exciting new…
The UK Supreme Court has now delivered its highly anticipated ruling in the case of Standish v Standish, clarifying how courts should approach the…
The UK’s latest Immigration White Paper, “Restoring Control over the Immigration System“, reflects a determined political shift. The main focus is…
What we do
Our untimed initial consultations provide you with as long as you need to speak to a specialist solicitor about your matter.
