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MIRZA, Ajmal

Case Reference: 20BE2074725

Case Details

Reference

20BE2074725

Court

Walsall Magistrates' Court - Courtroom 02

Magistrate

Miss Davies , Professor Gourevitch JP , Miss Mosley JP

Hearing Date

9 June 2026

Time

10am

Hearing Type

Trial

Court Type

Magistrates

Prosecutor

CPS-WM

Case Details

Offence Details: | Assault by beating Send by public communication network an offensive / indecent / obscene / menacing message / matter Common assault Arrest by a constable for breaking / likely to break bail conditions - duty to surrender into the custody of a court Assault a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm

Next Steps at this Trial

During the trial, the prosecution presents evidence and calls witnesses to prove the defendant committed the crime. The defense cross-examines the witnesses and presents its own evidence. Once all evidence is heard, the magistrates, district judge, or a jury (in the Crown Court) will decide if the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Court Jurisdiction: Magistrates' Court - Magistrates' Courts handle virtually all summary offences (minor offences) and start the proceedings for serious offences. They are presided over by three volunteer Magistrates (advised by a legal advisor) or a single qualified District Judge. They do not have a jury.

UK Offence & Sentencing Guidelines

Common Assault / Battery

Common assault is committed when a person intentionally or recklessly causes another to apprehend immediate, unlawful violence. Battery is the actual application of unlawful force. No physical injury needs to occur.

Sentencing: Usually dealt with in the Magistrates' Court. Maximum penalty is 6 months imprisonment, a community order, or a fine. If racially or religiously aggravated, it can be sent to the Crown Court with higher maximum penalties.
Actual Bodily Harm (ABH)

ABH (Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861) involves an assault that causes some hurt or injury to the victim (e.g., bruising, cuts, minor fractures) that is more than transient or trifling.

Sentencing: Triable either way. In the Magistrates' Court, the maximum is 6 months custody. In the Crown Court, it carries a maximum of 5 years imprisonment.
Disclaimer: The legal definitions and sentencing guidelines above are for general educational purposes under English Law and do not constitute formal legal representation or advice. If you are facing criminal prosecution, consult a qualified criminal defense solicitor immediately.

Case FAQs & Procedure Guide

A trial in the Magistrates' Court typically lasts from a few hours to a few days. Crown Court trials with a jury can last from several days to multiple weeks, depending on complexity and the number of witnesses.

If the verdict is not guilty (acquitted), the defendant is free to leave and cannot be prosecuted again for the same incident based on the same evidence.

If found guilty, the judge or magistrates will proceed to sentence the defendant, either immediately or at a separate sentencing hearing after a pre-sentence report is prepared.

For a single summary/either-way offence, magistrates can sentence a defendant to a maximum of 6 months in prison (or up to 12 months for multiple either-way offences), alongside unlimited fines and community orders.

Magistrates are trained volunteers from the local community who sit in panels of three. A District Judge is a qualified legal professional who sits alone. Both have the same sentencing powers.

Common assault is committed when a person intentionally or recklessly causes another to apprehend immediate, unlawful violence. Battery is the actual application of unlawful force. No physical injury needs to occur.

Usually dealt with in the Magistrates' Court. Maximum penalty is 6 months imprisonment, a community order, or a fine. If racially or religiously aggravated, it can be sent to the Crown Court with higher maximum penalties.

ABH (Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861) involves an assault that causes some hurt or injury to the victim (e.g., bruising, cuts, minor fractures) that is more than transient or trifling.

Triable either way. In the Magistrates' Court, the maximum is 6 months custody. In the Crown Court, it carries a maximum of 5 years imprisonment.

Interested in the outcome of this case? You can request more information by emailing the court directly using the Email Court button at the top of the page.

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