Whilst common assault is the least serious form of assault, it is not an offence that will always be treated lightly. Indeed, in some cases, a conviction for common assault can lead to terms of imprisonment. If you are facing an accusation of common...
ABH and GBH are two very serious offences. However, there are important distinctions between the two which are reflected in the severity of the potential sentences that can be handed out to anyone convicted. Given the similarities between the two offences,...
Non-fatal strangulation and suffocation are serious criminal offences which can lead to lengthy terms of imprisonment for anyone found guilty. They were introduced as new offences in 2022 by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 in order to cover gaps in pre-existing...
Cyberflashing became a crime on 31 st January 2024 as one of the new offences introduced by the Online Safety Act 2023. The guidelines published by the Crown Prosecution Service illustrate that it is a serious offence which carries severe punishments. With...
Drivers on UK roads are held to certain standards. Failing to uphold these standards by driving without due care and attention can potentially land you in hot water. But what does driving without due care and attention actually mean? And what is the penalty...
In the UK, life sentences can be handed out when someone is convicted of a serious crime. However, what actually constitutes a life sentence can vary from case to case. Life sentences do not necessarily mean that someone has to spend their entire life in...
EncroChat was a European communication network and service provider that, from 2020 onwards, has been at the centre of a large number of arrests. EncroChat was found to have been used as a ‘criminal marketplace’, where users could hide their...
The Offences against the Person Act 1861 covers a wide range of assault offences. This includes ‘Section 18 assaults’. Section 18 assaults are a form of grievous bodily harm (GBH). More specifically, Section 18 assaults refer to causing GBH with...
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 makes provisions for sexual offences in the UK, being used to define and determine the severity of these offences. If you are accused of a sexual offence in the UK, it is likely that you will be charged under the Sexual Offences...
Attempted murder is a serious criminal offence. As a consequence, the potential sentences for attempted murder can be correspondingly severe. If you are facing a charge for attempted murder, we understand how daunting this is likely to be. We also...
Have you or a loved one been asked to attend a caution plus 3 voluntary interview with police or another UK law enforcement agency? If so, you may be wondering exactly what this is, how it’s different to being arrested, and what you need to do to ...
Murder and manslaughter are among the most serious criminal offences. However, it is not always easy to know the difference between these two types of offence. Here at JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors, we understand how important it is for clients to understand the...
Perverting the course of justice is a serious criminal offence. If you are facing a charge of perverting the course of justice, it is important to understand the sentencing guidelines for the offence and what the potential consequences could be if you are...
The prospect of facing a drug possession charge can be extremely daunting, particularly if you are a first-time offender. You may understandably be concerned about the type of penalty you might receive and what impact this will have on your life moving...
If you are given a custodial sentence, the judge or magistrates presiding over your case may choose to ‘suspend’ this sentence for up to two years. This will depend on your circumstances and if certain criteria are fulfilled. We have obtained...
Rape is an offence that most people are acutely aware of. However, the concept of ‘marital rape’ is not as widely discussed, which can result in some confusion when these types of allegations are raised. Marital rape is extremely serious, with...
Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 is concerned with the possession, purchase and acquisition of prohibited firearms. This is a complex piece of legislation and failing to properly understand its terms could result in a criminal offence being committed, even...
Assault on emergency workers is treated more seriously under the law than assault on ordinary members of the public. The maximum sentence on conviction is two years’ imprisonment, so it is essential to have the best possible defence if you are charged...
If you are facing an ABH charge, the likely outcome can vary considerably. One of the most important factors that can affect your chances of avoiding conviction, or the type of ABH sentence you receive on conviction, is the quality of your legal defence. It...
Mortgage fraud is a criminal offence whereby someone obtains a mortgage by providing false information in relation to a mortgage application. This is sometimes called ‘obtaining a mortgage by deception’. Even the smallest piece of false...
Confiscation proceedings are a way for prosecutors to deprive people convicted of an offence of any benefit they may have received from the offence (sometimes called ‘proceeds of crime’). A confiscation order will be made, requiring the convicted...
Learning that HMRC are investigating you for fraud is likely to be a very scary situation and it is important to realise that there can be very serious penalties. Understanding the situation you are facing and getting the right legal support are both...
Assaulting a police officer is treated differently under the law than assaulting a member of the public. You could be sentenced to up to two years in prison if convicted, so it is essential to get the very best legal defence if you are arrested or charged...
Manslaughter is one of the most serious criminal offences one can commit and the penalties on conviction can be severe. That said, in some scenarios, a conviction for manslaughter may be the best available option, such as where a defendant is originally...
In England and Wales, serious criminal law matters will proceed to the Crown Court for trial. While cases will usually begin in the Magistrates’ Court, they will be passed on to the Crown Court where the matter at hand requires a trial by jury. ...
In the UK, there are various laws in place which are designed to regulate the safe and proper use of computer systems. Many of these laws fall under the umbrella of the Computer Misuse Act 1990. The Computer Misuse Act is wide in scope and is not...
Over the past twenty years there has been a significant growth in the prosecution of individuals for historic sexual offences. The publicity surrounding the alleged scandals of ‘cover up’ in care institutions and schools has fuelled an increase...
Making a threat to kill is a very serious offence. Even if a threat is not met with any physical violence, it could still lead to very harsh penalties being handed out to anyone who is convicted....
In England and Wales, all criminal law cases will begin in the Magistrates’ Court. This means that if you have been charged with an offence, your first court appearance will always be in the Magistrates’ Court no matter what your case relates to....
We know there are seasonal effects on crime, but which crimes are particularly prevalent in the summer months? Find out what exactly you need to be vigilant about this summer based on 10 years of police data… A study by researchers at JD Spicer Zeb...
Evidence from digital devices such as phones, tablets and laptops is becoming more important than ever for criminal investigations and prosecutions. If you have been arrested, are under investigation or are facing charges, it is essential to understand how...
If you are found to be in possession of drugs, and it is suspected that you are holding them to pass on to another person, you could face a conviction of possession with intent to supply. As you might expect, the class of drug that is found in your...
Facing an allegation of aggravated burglary can be incredibly distressing, particularly as the potential sentences for the offence can be extremely serious. No matter what the surrounding circumstances may be, if you are accused of committing aggravated...
As you may expect, sentences for assault can be very harsh. However, they can also vary significantly depending on a wide range of factors, including the exact offence someone is charged with. Assault can cover various actions, ranging from simply using...
There is often some confusion over what ‘affray’ is, and what will happen to anyone who is charged with affray. While affray is less common than other assault charges, the potential sentences can still be serious. In some cases, being arrested...
Sexual grooming laws and the corresponding penalties are very serious. Where someone is guilty of sexual grooming, they could be subject to irreversible damage to their personal life, career, reputation, and may also face lengthy periods of imprisonment. ...
Umar Zeb, Senior Partner at JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors, uncovers the most prevalent sexual offences in England and Wales in the last financial year. Sexual violence in England and Wales, especially against women and girls, is an epidemic. Action Aid ...
Following alleged instances of domestic violence, a victim may decide to apply for a non-molestation order against the person they deem to be responsible for the abuse. Non-molestation orders are put in place to prevent anyone accused of domestic abuse from...
While most people are aware of the strict laws regarding sexual relations with a minor, there is often some confusion over the laws concerning kissing. Kissing a minor laws do differ across the UK, with both Scotland and Northern Ireland both having their...
Touching someone without their consent may not always amount to a criminal offence. However, where touching is deemed to be sexual in nature, it could lead to charges being brought forward. Given how serious the charges for inappropriate touching can be,...
Touching someone without their consent may not always amount to a criminal offence. However, where touching is deemed to be sexual in nature, it could lead to charges being brought forward. Given how serious the charges for inappropriate touching can be,...
Assault by penetration is a very serious sexual offence. As such, the corresponding penalties for a conviction can be substantial. Being convicted of sexual assault by penetration is likely to led to lengthy prison sentences, but the exact punishment will...
If you are charged with a sexual offence in the UK, you may also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. This is a serious matter and is likely to have a serious, long-lasting impact on your life. Understanding what Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are...
Click on the image below to see how long you can be on bail without charge in the UK ...
Self defence is, understandably, the first legal defence many people think of if they are accused of a violent crime. However, whether it can actually be used as a defence will depend on a range of factors. Here, we discuss UK self defence laws in detail,...
Upskirting may not be a term you are wholly familiar with. That said, it is important to understand what it is, especially if you find yourself accused of committing it. While Section 67 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 covered the broader offence of...
Umar Zeb, Senior Partner at JD Spicer Zeb, answers some of the top online searches relating to the Online Safety Bill. The Online Safety Bill is a new set of laws that intend to protect children and adults online. The bill imposes new legal requirements on...
It is often obvious whether certain actions are considered to be a crime. However, there is often some misunderstanding over whether the act of voyeurism falls into this category. For many people, voyeurism may not be a term with which they are familiar. It...
The systems of pre-charge bail and release under investigation (RUI) underwent significant changes in 2022 when Schedule 4 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 came into effect. Here, we provide RUI and pre-charge bail guidance, discuss what...
When someone is accused of a criminal offence, they may be subject to a digital forensics investigation. In child sexual offence investigations, mobile phone forensics are likely to be used by the police to obtain important evidence for a prosecution. In...
There are often scenarios where the victim of a crime does not wish to press charges against an alleged offender, or they change their mind after making a snap decision. We live in a world of CCTV and police body warn cameras. Recordings can provide...
Having sex in public is a taboo subject for many and, understandably, there is often some confusion over whether the act could be considered a criminal offence. It is important to remember that, even if you are not seen having sex by a member of the public,...
There may be certain scenarios where, if you believe that you have committed a crime, turning yourself in to the police would be beneficial. That said, it is important to understand where this would be the appropriate course of action and what the potential...
Over 138,000 road casualties have been reported across the UK in the past 10 years in the month of December alone, averaging at 13,842 casualties every December. Christmas festivities are in full swing, which means lights, alcohol and icy roads, all...
If you are released under investigation or released on pre-charge bail after being interviewed by the police, you will either receive a postal requisition or a summons to attend the Magistrates’ Court, or you will receive a ‘no further...
With the threshold for criminal convictions being incredibly high, prosecuting authorities need to gather compelling evidence in order to bring forward a charge against a defendant. As digital devices are now part of most people’s everyday lives,...
Digital forensics often form a core part of criminal investigations in the UK, being used for a variety of offences. In particular, digital forensics investigations are commonly used when someone is accused of committing a child sexual offence, owing to the...
Grievous bodily harm (GBH) is a very serious criminal offence. Anyone who is convicted can expect to face significant penalties, regardless of the surrounding circumstances. What many people do not realise is that there are two different GBH offences...
Grievous bodily harm (GBH) is one of the most serious criminal offences you can be charged with. This is due to the fact that injuries caused by GBH are especially severe and can often be life-changing for victims. Given that the penalties for GBH are so...
Community resolution orders are an increasingly common method for the police to handle low-level offending. They offer an alternative to traditional criminal proceedings and allow the police to deal with certain offences in an ‘informal’ way. ...
What powers do police in the UK have to search your phone and social media accounts? If you are arrested, your phone may be taken to be analysed as evidence. Similarly, if the police believe that your phone may contain evidence of criminal activity or...
Within the UK, changes to the law regarding unsolicited pictures such as “dick pics” are being considered in order to deter those sending them without the consent of the receiver. Unsolicited pictures within sexting, unwanted pics,...
In the UK, the laws on sending inappropriate pictures vary according to the situation. For instance, when consenting adults exchange sexually explicit photographs, this is not generally considered a crime. The act is only considered a criminal offense in...
If you or someone you know has been charged with a criminal offence or is under investigation, the situation may initially appear overwhelming. But you should know that having an expert criminal defence lawyer on your side is the best way of securing a...
Facing a conviction or allegation of grievous bodily harm (GBH) can be incredibly distressing, especially as this offence can carry significant penalties for anyone who is found guilty. GBH is classed as ‘really serious’ bodily harm that is the...
While the potential sentences for indecent image offences are serious across the board, the most severe punishments relate to making indecent images. That being said, there is often some confusion over what actually constitutes ‘making’ an...
Most people are well aware that possessing, distributing and producing indecent images of children is illegal and can carry significant penalties for anyone who is found guilty of such an offence. However, many people do not also realise that the law on...
The law on having sexual relations with anyone under the age of 16 is very clear cut, with most people being well aware that the act is illegal, regardless of whether consent is provided. However, when it comes to speaking to a minor online, the law can...
If you have been arrested, you will understandably be concerned about what will happen next and how your case may unfold. Regardless of the nature of the offence you have been arrested for, you will also likely have questions over the sort of evidence that...
No matter what your circumstances may be or what criminal offence you may be accused of, you will always be entitled to receive legal representation. This can come in the form of representation from a private criminal defence solicitor of your choice or a...
Assault by penetration and, by extension, digital penetration are very serious sexual offences which carry significant penalties. This means that the prospect of facing a digital penetration charge, including digital penetration of a minor, is understandably...
Facing a conviction or allegation of sexual assault can be incredibly distressing, especially as sexual assault charges can be severe for specific offences. Sexual assault covers a wide range of offences, which means that the potential sentences someone...
In the UK, it is illegal for anyone to produce, possess or distribute illegal pornography or indecent images. However, there is understandably some confusion as to whether ‘viewing’ this type of content is the same as ‘possessing’ it....
Even if the case against you as a suspect is not proceeding further, you should be aware that this is not always the end of the case. You should consider instructing a strong defence team if you have been advised that the Victims Right to Review (VRR) Scheme...
If you are found guilty of committing a sexual offence in the UK, you are liable to face a range of potential penalties, including lengthy prison sentences. However, regardless of whether you are imprisoned or simply receive a caution, after being found...
Indecent image offences are incredibly serious, with the accompanying sentences being severe where a guilty verdict is reached. The police will generally turn up at the door to commence their contact with you. The police and prosecuting...
There is often some confusion regarding the law on taking photos of minors without permission, which can cause a number of complications given how serious offences relating to indecent imagery can be. Many people question whether it is illegal to take...
The dramatic decline in rape prosecutions since 2016 prompted the Government to launch a review in 2019 to look at how the criminal justice system deals with cases of serious sexual offences . Its findings, published in the 2021 End-to-End Rape Review...
It goes without saying that the laws surrounding indecent material depicting children are incredibly serious and, as such, carry severe penalties and sentences. But what happens if you have accidentally viewed child pornography? Many people may...
Facing a conviction for producing, possessing or distributing indecent images or extreme pornography can be incredibly distressing, with the potential sentences being severe for the most serious offences. However, given that there are a range of difference...
The ever-increasing influence of the internet and social media over the past decade has fuelled a substantial growth in the distribution of adult imagery, something which is now fairly common knowledge. However, what many people don’t realise is that...
Public nudity isn’t just frowned upon in the UK – in certain circumstances, it could be a criminal offence that has the potential to lead to serious penalties. It’s often the case that instances of public nudity or sex in public can lead...
Rape allegations are incredibly serious, and, as you might expect, the penalties for rape can be severe. Given the nature of the offence in question, prison sentences are an inevitability, but the exact length of the sentence and any other relevant...
We acted for a defendant charged with possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and possession of both Class B & C drugs in the Crown Court. The case was prepared by us and we instructed professional drug experts to anaylse the drugs to...
Our client was detained at a Premier league football match and found in possession of cocaine having been identified by the drugs dog. He was summonsed to attend court and not offered a caution. He was at risk of not qualifying as an accountant with a...
There are various options in a police interview that you attend voluntarily or under arrest. Our only concern is to make sure that you are not charged. Where you are going to be charged we will do what we can to mitigate this and attempt an out-of-court...
If you are under investigation for committing a crime, the police may decide to release you on bail. While this is, of course, a preferable outcome compared to being remanded in police custody, it still leaves plenty of room for uncertainty and anxiety. ...
If you have been arrested or interviewed by the police but are still yet to be charged or released, you may wonder how long it will take for a decision to be made regarding the outcome of your case. Waiting for your case to be decided can be very stressful,...
We acted for a defendant charged with 5 counts of historic rape allegations against his daughter going back over a decade. Our client vigorously denied the allegations. The case was prepared by us and we obtained detailed disclosure from the prosecution...
We acted on an enhanced private basis for an education professional who was arrested following dangerous and erratic behavior in public which led to police being called. He had assaulted two paramedics whilst heavily intoxicated in hospital. The incident...
We acted for a defendant who was charged with attempted murder following an incident outside the Sugar Hut nightclub in Essex. The prosecution alleged that following a large scale fight our client deliberately drove an Audi Q7 over a man who had been knocked...
We secured a police caution for a city financial executive who was arrested for making serious false allegations following a drunken night out. Our client was able to meet with senior team members who were able to advise on the best course of action given...
We represented a young client who was accused of committing an assault on an emergency worker and racially aggravated intentional harassment. We gave careful advice about whether his trial should be at the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court. The...
Possession with Intent to Supply Class C – Caution negotiated at the police station. We were instructed on a Private basis by parents to represent a 19-year-old male who was to be interviewed for possession of class C drugs with intent...
2 knives charges were dropped by the CPS with our professional efforts. We represented a private client businessman charged with having possession of 3 knives and also having a dual stun gun and CS spray. We took detailed...
We offer a bespoke private fee service . If we have not already acted in your case, we can take over file from your duty solicitor or another firm. Often you will just need a good solicitor to write to the police setting out your case and the reasons to...
We acted for a client charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of common assault. We were instructed on a private basis and took over the case at a very late stage from another solicitor who was acting under legal aid, with the trial date...
Our clients Conviction for indecent exposure was quashed. He was convicted of indecent exposure at Willesden Brent court. Umar Zeb Senior Partner instructed Barrister Lady-Gené Waszkewitz of 25 Bedford Row and she represented the...
If you are under investigation by the police or released on pre-charge bail, you may, understandably, be worried about the prospect of being charged with a criminal offence. Having the police drop charges is usually the ideal outcome, but whether or not this...
We acted for a university student charged with street dealing a large quantity of class A drugs namely cocaine. We made sure that an early guilty plea was entered to secure full credit to reduce his sentence exposure. We were instructed on a private...
James O’Donnell represented a very well known music artist charged with 3 counts of failing to nominate a driver under S172 Road Traffic Act and driving whilst disqualified. With a thoroughly prepared defence we were able to successfully argue that our...
