when you say your brother "was taken away for a car offence " , was it a minor motoring offeence......if he was driving while disq.......this wont mean much , but if he used criminal damage on a vehicle/or take drive away this will be pointed out.......... i dont think your brother will get anything more than community service , if he is convicted of assault ....... he maybe bound over to keep the peace, if he pleads guilty...in which case , no community sevice maybe dished out if "he is bound over to keep the peace " ......