Home / Defence work / Violent Crimes
Criminal
Violent Crimes
Defence in allegations of violence — from common assault through to the most serious offences against the person. Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court representation.
Police station
In custody for assault, ABH or GBH — speak to the barrister before the interview.
Astons Law Chambers attends police stations at any hour. The call comes before the interview.
How attendance works →Available 24/7 for police station support.
- Hourly
- £175–£400 +VAT
- First appearance
- £500–£1,500
- Single day hearing
- £700–£3,500
- Trial brief fee
- £1,500–£3,000+
Indicative only. A written fee is set out in a client-care letter before any instruction is accepted. Full fee schedule →
What Astons Law Chambers does
- Assault, ABH and GBH allegations.
- Affray and public order matters.
- Robbery and aggravated offences.
- Self-defence, identification and CCTV challenges.
Process
- A short call to identify the allegation, the evidence the police are relying on, and any bail conditions in place.
- A written client-care letter setting out scope and fee.
- Conference, disclosure review, and a clear view on plea, trial, and witness strategy.
- Representation at every hearing through to verdict.
Instructing directly
A solicitor is not required for this work.
Astons Law Chambers is authorised under the Bar Standards Board's Public Access scheme to accept instructions directly from members of the public. Suitability is assessed during the first call; where a solicitor is needed, Astons Law Chambers will say so and refer where useful.
How Direct Access works →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 first call covers what is and isn’t likely.
- 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.