Offences against the Person Act 1861

Question 1

DPP v Smith 2006

Answer 1

ABH

Cutting the hair of the victim was classified as assault- no need for the victim to show pain

Question 2

R v Ireland 1997

Answer 2

ABH includes psychological harm. D made a series of silent phone calls. Psychological harm must be medically recognised.

Question 3

T v DPP 2003

Answer 3

Loss of consciousness can amount to ABH. D chased and kicked V so lost consciousness.

Question 4

C (A Minor) v Eisenhower 1984

Answer 4

There must be a break in the continuity of the skin. D shot V, ruptured a blood vessel for GBH.

Question 5

Wood 1830

Answer 5

Breaking a bone will not be enough for GBH

Question 6

DPP v Smith 1961

Answer 6

OR really serious harm must have been inflicted. GBH (after Wood 1830, breaking a bone will not be enough).

Question 7

R v Burstow 1997

Answer 7

GBH can include psychological harm. Harrassed a woman for breaking up with him. She suffered severe depressive illness.

Question 8

Bollom 2004

Answer 8

GBH.

D injured 17 month old daughter. The victim’s age and other factors can be taken into consideration.

Question 9

R v Slingsby 1995

Answer 9

D penetrated vagina and rectum and the signet ring cut her. Vagina became infected, septicaemia and died. Conviction was quashed as the injury was not foreseeable.
Defence to OAPA.

Question 10

Wilson 1997

Answer 10

It is not in the public interest to criminalise consensual behaviour. Branded wife’s buttocks.
But R v Brown 1994?