i recently had an allegation for abh against me, i have no criminal convictions ever, what happens 2 me if i am found guilty?

[criminal666]

http://www.theanwserbank.co.uk., this page

[Suzieb]

It all depends on the circumstances.

My boyfriend was charged with ABH in February, and it finally went to trial on Thursday. He was lucky and got a great plea bargain.

It can be tried at Magistrates court, where the maximum punishment is 6 months, or it can be tried at Crown Court where the maximum punishment is 5 years.

If the magistrates think it is too serious for them to deal with, it will go to Crown.

I'd advise you to get a good solicitor. It's hard to give you any more advice or idea's on what will happen without knowing the full circumstances.

[mooney1111]

suzie what sentence did he get, i was alos on trial on thursday

[Suzieb]

He's going back for sentencing in 4 weeks. His barrister & solictor said that he's definately looking at community service, after all he's only being charged with punching someone to the face 3 times.

How did you trial go?

[seatrout]

I'm glad I wasnt the person who only got punched in the face 3 times. Tell me suzieb if it had been your boyfriend or a friend or family member who had been assaulted would you be quite so chippy about it - wish I'd prosecuted your boyfriend.

[criminal666]

ok but i didnt actually assault this person, what happens if they get a 'fake' witness to lie about the whole thing?...apprently i was meant to have hit them with an umbrella...anyway, apart from that i havent done anything ever to be involved with the police and am a good character, well most people reckon...any more feedback?...

[jno]

got any witnesses of your own? Call them up. Independent witnesses will do, they don't have to be friends (in fact better if they're not).

[criminal666]

yes my friend and i were together at the time, i guess there is my witness, thanx for the reply....

[jno]

and of course were there any CCTV cameras around you? Quite possible these days.

[criminal666]

ofcourse, many but i know i didnt do anything well maybe i grabbed someones wrist but that was about it,

[jake-the-peg]

The magistrates bench book recomends a custodial sentence for ABH for a first time offender pleading guilty.

But that is a recommendation and there's more interpretation of seriousness andmitigating circumstance than say druink driving where it's usually the amount of alcohol on a look up chart to see what the sentence is.

In 2003 the average sentence for ABH was 9.2 months however currently only 68% of ABH convictions are resulting in a custodial sentence.

[Suzieb]

No of course I wouldn't be so chippy about it, but these people lied about what my boyfriend did and then laughed in his face outside court, so I'm feeling quite relieved that the 6 months of worrying are finally over and he's only being punished for what he actually did.

[mooney1111]

i got a �250 fine suzie

[Peter Pedant]

Oh God I got a thousand for drunk driving
(only a little over the limit) but I agree I was driving

I clearly should have smacked someone in mush
- only once tho'. I am not violent and three times seems like overkill