Offences & Sentences

Question 1

theft

Answer 1

the dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another person with intention of permanently depriving the other person of it - Theft Act 1968

Question 2

robbery

Answer 2

theft by force or with the threat of violence - indictable only

Question 3

burglary

Answer 3

entering a building as a trespasser with intent to steal or intent to inflict GBH or intent to do unlawful damage - can be either-way or indictable only in some cases

Question 4

life sentence

Answer 4

25 years

Question 5

suspended sentence

Answer 5

follows a conviction and the defendant is warned about a specific length of time they face but the punishment will not be put into effect by the court unless a further offence is committed within the period in which the first sentence is suspended

Question 6

blackmail

Answer 6

making an unwarranted demand with menaces with a view to gain

Question 7

conditional charge

Answer 7

follows a conviction and the defendant does not face any immediate punishment and no future punishment is specified but the defendant is warned that if they are convicted of any further offence within the period specified by the court they are liable when facing court for the subsequent offence to also face punishment for both the original and subsequent offence

Question 8

absolute discharge

Answer 8

when the court feels that no other punishment than the fact of conviction is necessary

Question 9

consecutive sentence

Answer 9

a jail sentence which follows another jail term imposed on the defendant and are served one after the other

Question 10

concurrent sentence

Answer 10

where the defendant is sentenced overall only for the length of the longest jail sentence

Question 11

taking a vehicle without authority (joy-riding)

Answer 11

where offenders abandon a car after using it (not described as theft as there is not intent to permanently deprive the owner of the car)

Question 12

perjury

Answer 12

knowingly giving false evidence after taking an oath as a witness to tell the truth in court, or in an affidavit, or to a tribunal - indictable only

Question 13

perverting the course of justice

Answer 13

concealing evidence or giving false information to police - indictable only

Question 14

community punishment order

Answer 14

the court orders a defendant to obey one or more requirements at least one of which should be deemed by the court to be punitive in cases where prison would otherwise be appropriate such as unpaid community work (or a curfew using an electronic tag or a fine) under a probation officer’s direction (and one or more non-punitive elements e.g requirement to attend treatment for drug or alcohol dependency)

Question 15

binding over

Answer 15

the court specifies an amount which the person must pay if they breach the peace e.g by violent or threatening conduct within a specified period

Question 16

restraining order

Answer 16

bans the defendant from any contact with a specified person e.g an ex partner to protect them from harassment

Question 17

rape

Answer 17

penetration of a vagina or anus or mouth without consent by penis if the victim is under 13 any such conduct is defined as rape even if the victims says there was no compulsion - indictable only

Question 18

assault by penetration

Answer 18

of vagina or anus without consent and other than by a penis e.g finger or object - indictable only

Question 19

sexual assault

Answer 19

intentional sexual touching without consent - either-way

Question 20

sexual activity with a child

Answer 20

child=someone aged under 16

• indictable only if the child is under 13
• either-way if the child is 13 or over

Question 21

exposure

Answer 21

of genitals with intent to cause alarm

or distress

Question 22

voyeurism

Answer 22

observing for sexual gratification someone else or people doing something private knowing they did not consent to being observed

Question 23

murder

Answer 23

the unlawful killing of a human being with the intention of killing or causing grievous bodily harm. An adult convicted of murder must be sentenced to life imprisonment - indictable-only.

Question 24

manslaughter

Answer 24

killing by an unlawful act likely to cause bodily harm but without the intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm - indictable-only