oap 1861

[jeffery2009]

Can someone explain section 18 and section 20 without the legal jargon? ?

[Ethel]

They are both the offence of causing 'grievous bodily harm', which is serious injury.

S.18 is the more serious of the two offences, because the person who caused the injury intended to cause very serious injury to the victim. He meant it.
The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

S.20 is the same amount of injury, but the offender didn't intend to cause that much harm.

A good example is a hard push. The victim falls down a very steep flight of concrete stairs and suffers a broken skull, broken ribs and a broken leg.
For a s.18, the person who pushed was well aware that that the stairs were there and meant for the victim to get seriously hurt.

In s.20 the person who pushed believed there was only one or steps, and the victim would merely stumble

[Buenchico]

The Crown Prosecution Service website explains the difference between 'Section 20' and 'Section 18', with examples.

See here for the definition of 'Section 20' offences:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offences_ag ainst_the_person/#_Unlawful_wounding
Scroll down for 'Section 18'.
(If you want a quick summary, just read paragraphs 55, 62 and 65).

Chris

[dannyk13]

Explained here.
http://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Assault_definitive_guideline_-_Crown_Court.pdf