The offences of assault and battery

ACTUS REUS OF ASSAULT

The actus reus of assault is putting someone in fear of immediate, unlawful violence. An example of this is threatening someone.

In SMITH V CHIEF OF WOKING POLICE the defendant was staring at the victim through the window of a first story bedsit. It was argued as to if the victim was in fear of immediate unlawful violence as there was a glass barrier between the defendant and the victim. It was decided that it was assault as glass us easy to break.

In R V IRELAND the victim was receiving silent phone calls from the defendant which is a form of assault.

In READ V COKER the victim was told he would be attacked unless he…