non fatal offences

Question 1

R v Ireland (1997) (assault can be words)

Answer 1

The defendant made a series of silent telephone calls over three months to three different women. He was convicted under s.47 of the offences against the person act 1861. He appealed contending that silence cannot amount to an assault and that psychiatric injury is not bodily harm. His conviction was upheld. Silence can mount to an assault and psychiatric injury can amount to bodily harm.

Question 2

R v Constanza (1997) (assault can be words)

Answer 2

The defendant mounted a campaign of hate against an ex-work colleague over a period of 20 months. He sent over 800 threatening letters, would follow her home, wrote offensive words