Serious Assault Defence Solicitors

If you are facing allegations of committing a serious assault, we are here to help you. Our serious assault defence solicitors can provide the very best legal representation and advice right at the outset of your case, giving you the best chance of avoiding the significant penalties associated with this crime, including lengthy periods of imprisonment.

At JMW, our highly experienced serious assault solicitors have successfully defended many individuals facing allegations of serious violence. We are ranked as a top-tier crime firm by the Legal 500, as well as listed in Chambers and Partners, in recognition of our skill and expertise in these types of cases.

To speak to a serious assault defence solicitor about allegations made against you, call us today on 0345 872 6666. Alternatively, request a call back by filling in our online enquiry form.

Can You Help if I Have Been Accused of Assault?

An accusation of assault is a serious issue. It is important to prepare yourself with legal protection and representation as soon as you are aware of the accusations made against you.

At JMW, we have assisted countless individuals to effectively defend themselves from accusations of serious assault. With decades of experience, we are able to offer you specialist legal counsel that will see you put forward your side of the story within the full extent of the law. We can also offer advice on how to fund your defence in such cases.

Our services include:

• Providing legal advice and guidance during the investigative stage
• Offering legal support and consultation during an interview under caution
• Assisting post-charge in preparing cases for a court hearing (either at the Magistrates’ Court or Crown Court)
• Reviewing the prosecution’s evidence
• Completing our own investigation and enquiries
• Building the strongest possible case for your defence

Our team of serious assault solicitors will provide a first-class level of care to those facing these allegations, offering dedicated, thorough and bespoke legal guidance at every stage of the legal process.

How Should I Defend Myself in an Assault Charge?

JMW’s solicitors are experts in crime law. Our team is able to provide a strong defence using expertise gained over decades of practise. Through our legal services, you will be able to state your case and consider the precise circumstances surrounding the allegations made against you.

There are a variety of mitigating factors that our team can employ in your defence:

• Self-defence - you may have had reason to believe you were about to be attacked, or you were defending yourself from an ongoing attack
• Defence of another party - if you had to step in to stop an attack on another person.
• Citizen’s arrest - you may have employed a citizen’s arrest on someone who was committing an indictable offence, or had reasonable suspicion that a crime was going to take place
• Preventing a crime - you may have used physical force to stop a crime from taking place

It is vital to seek legal advice if you’re facing accusations of serious assault. Speak to one of our JMW assault defence lawyers today.

Can I Face Prison from an Assault Charge?

There are a number of penalties associated with an assault charge, as stated by the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Depending on what sort of assault the incident is found to be, there could be a variety of potential outcomes:

• Common assault - a maximum six weeks’ custodial sentence
• Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) - a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment
• Racially aggravated assault occasioning ABH - a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment
• Unlawfully wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm (GBH) - a maximum of five years imprisonment
• Racially aggravated unlawful wounding/inflicting GBH - a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment
• Wounding/causing GBH with intent - a maximum sentence of life imprisonment
• Attempted murder - a maximum sentence of life imprisonment (further details found here) 

If you have been accused of any of these offences, get in touch with our serious assault solicitors today for legal advice on the best approach to defending against the charge.

What Factors Can Make My Case More Serious?

We offer our clients legal opinions on how serious the charges against them are. With years of experience and know-how, we can accurately advise on the seriousness of the allegations made against you.

Some factors that influence charges include:

• The level of injury caused by the assault
• Whether the assault is sustained or repeated
• The use of a weapon
• Whether or not others are involved in the offending behaviour and what role was taken by each participant
• The vulnerability of the subject of the assault
• The presence of alcohol or drugs

The most serious assault offences are assessed in line with robust sentencing guidelines, which are those that typically involve a weapon or the infliction of grievous bodily harm (GBH). As such, it is vital to seek representation from specialist serious assault solicitors to help avoid conviction or custodial sentence. Our team will spend time assessing the facts of your case, provide advice on the evidence, and whether or not you have a defence to the allegations made against you.

If you choose to plead guilty to any offence, our serious assault solicitors will also be able to carefully analyse any mitigating factors in your case to help secure the best possible outcome for you.