1. Foundation Law 2013/14
1
Lecture 8
Offences against the person (2): Non-Fatal Offences
Reading List:
 Jacqueline Martin, “GCSE Law”, 5th
edition, Chapter 23- Criminal Law: Non- Fatal
Offences
Cases:
 R v Ireland (1997)
 R v Venna (1976)
 Collins v Wilcock (1984)
 Fagan v Metropolitan Police Commissioner (1969)
 R v Savage (1991)
 R v Dica (2004)
 JCC v Eisenhower (1983)
 R v Parmenter (1991)
 R v Latimer (1886)
Preparatory Questions for Seminar 8:
1. What is the definition of common assault? Outline the actus reus and mens rea of the
offence.
2. What is the definition of battery? Outline the actus reus and mens rea of the offence.
3. Explain the difference between the offence of common assault and assault occasioning
actual bodily harm (ABH).
Turn Over
Learning Outcomes:
 Describe and differentiate between the other principle acts of violence against the person (common
assault; battery; assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and assault occasioning grievous
bodily harm (GBH) );
 Apply legal principles to given facts and demonstrate criticality & analysis when answering fact
based questions; and
 Analyse case law and be able to apply case law in a persuasive manner to hypothetical case studies.

2. Foundation Law 2013/14
2
4. What is the difference between assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) and assault
occasioning grievous bodily harm (GBH)? Give an example for each offence.
5. Outline the difference between offences under section 18 and section 20 of the Offences
Against the Person Act (OAPA) 1861.
Turn Over

3. Foundation Law 2013/14
3
Crimes involving assaults1
No
Yes
Slight
Wound OR really serious injury
No
Yes
1
Figure 23.2 Crimes involving assaults, at page 186 of Jacqueline Martin, “GCSE Law”, 5th
Edition.
Was the victim injured? Common assault and/or battery
How serious was the injury?
Did the defendant intend to wound or
cause serious harm?
Section 18 Offences Against the Person Act
1861
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm
Section 20 Offences Against the Person Act
1861