What is Violent Crimes?
Violent crime covers allegations involving violence or the threat of it: assault, actual and grievous bodily harm, affray, and robbery. The less serious are heard in the Magistrates’ Court. The most serious go to the Crown Court.
Astons Law Chambers serves as the entity acting as criminal defence support provided by Barrister Ghulam Humayun.
Charge to trial
Early decisions shape the case.
Identification, self-defence, and witness account are best framed in the first weeks after charge. Earlier is better.
Offences we defend in this area
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GBH Defence
Grievous bodily harm charge. Crown Court. Intent, self-defence, serious injury.
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Knife Crime Defence
Bladed article possession, threatening with a knife. Custody is a realistic outcome.
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Domestic Abuse & Coercive Control Defence
Domestic abuse, coercive control allegations. Special procedures. Police station to Crown Court.
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Robbery Defence
Robbery charge. Crown Court. Identification, joint enterprise, force threshold.
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How an assault case proceeds
Most violence allegations begin with an arrest and a police interview soon after the incident, while accounts and CCTV are still being gathered. What you say at that stage, including any claim of self-defence, is recorded and used later.
If you are charged, the first hearing is at the Magistrates’ Court. Common assault stays there; actual and grievous bodily harm, and robbery, are heard in the Crown Court before a jury. Bail conditions often forbid contact with the complainant while the case runs.
How the defence is built
The prosecution has to prove the force used was unlawful. Where self-defence is raised, the question is whether you honestly believed force was necessary and whether the force was reasonable in the circumstances as you saw them.
Medical evidence, CCTV, and witness accounts are tested closely: what each one actually shows, how an injury was caused, and whether the sequence of events matches the charge. The level of harm alleged is measured against what the medical evidence supports.
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Common questions
- I have been arrested but not charged — should I call now?
- Yes. The strongest moment to act is before charge. Decisions taken at the police station shape the rest of the case.
- Will I get bail?
- Bail turns on the allegation, prior history, and the conditions that can realistically be offered.
- The complainant is a family member — does that change things?
- Yes. Domestic-related allegations attract specific procedures around protective measures, disclosure, and witness handling. These are addressed at the first conference.
- Will I go to prison?
- Assault sentencing follows the Sentencing Council guideline for the specific charge. The guideline works on two factors: the harm caused to the victim (level of injury, whether the attack was sustained or repeated, whether the victim was particularly vulnerable) and the culpability (whether a weapon was used, whether the attack was targeted, whether the defendant played a leading role in a group). The combination produces a starting point. Previous convictions, plea timing, and personal mitigation move the sentence within the range. Whether the court crosses the custody threshold — and whether any custodial sentence is suspended — turns on the totality of those factors.
- I was acting in self-defence — does that matter?
- Yes. Self-defence is a complete defence to most assault charges in England and Wales. It applies where the force used was honestly believed to be necessary and was reasonable in the circumstances as the person believed them to be. The law gives some latitude for the pressure of the moment — the person isn’t expected to have got the level of force exactly right. Whether self-defence runs in a given case turns on the evidence, witness accounts, forensic findings, and the defendant’s own account.
Astons Law Chambers is authorised under the Bar Standards Board's Public Access scheme to accept instructions directly from members of the public. The practice is also authorised to conduct litigation, so the case can be run end-to-end without a separate solicitor. Suitability is assessed during the first call; where a solicitor is needed, Astons Law Chambers will say so and refer where useful.
For matters that qualify for public funding, see how legal aid works at Astons Law Chambers — eligible cases are referred to a partner solicitor firm at no cost.
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