The s.47 offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm — where a common assault, causation and a level of injury combine to produce a more serious charge.
Everything in s.47 builds on the common law assaults, then adds two further elements that change the seriousness of the offence. This chapter sets out the offence itself — its mode of trial, sentence and actus reus — before examining the 'occasioning' element, including escape cases and when a victim's reaction breaks the chain of causation. It then defines actual bodily harm, covering psychiatric injury and why mere fear or distress is not enough, and explains the half mens rea rule: no intention or foresight of the harm itself is needed. The chapter closes with consent, its recognised exceptions for sport and other activities, and the distinctions that separate s.47 from grievous bodily harm under s.20.
