Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Wounding definition

What does Wounding mean? Wounding describes an injury that breaks the continuity of the whole skin (both layers). It does not include mere bruising or internal bleeding without an external break; see JCC v Eisenhower. Typical examples are cuts and stab wounds. In England and Wales and Northern Ireland, “wounding” features in offences under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861: - Section 18: wounding or causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent. This is indictable only and triable in the Crown Court. - Section 20: unlawful wounding or inflicting GBH. This is an either-way offence, triable in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court. For section 18,...

Section 18 Offences Against the Person Act 1861: Wounding or Causing GBH with Intent—Elements, Defences, Sentencing and Alternative Verdicts (England and Wales)

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Practice notes

The offence of causing Grievous bodily harm with intent

Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent can be tried solely in the Crown Court on Indictment.

Elements of the offence

Under the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (OATPA 1861), the prosecution must establish that the defendant unlawfully and maliciously:

wounded with the intention of causing GBH, or
caused GBH with that intention, or
wounded intending to resist or prevent the lawful arrest or detention of any person, or
caused GBH intending to resist or prevent the lawful arrest or detention of any person

‘Unlawfully’ and ‘maliciously’

Unlawfully

The wounding or causing of GBH must be unlawful. Such conduct may be lawful if used:

in self-defence
in defence of another
in defence of property
for the prevention of crime
where the victim gave express or implied consent

For further information on these defences, see below: Defences.

Maliciously

If the accused is charged with maliciously wounding or causing GBH with intent, the prosecution must prove, in addition to intention, that the accused acted maliciously. ‘Maliciously’ carries the same meaning as it does for an offence contrary to...

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Web page updated on 27/05/2026

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