Private criminal defence solicitors in Manchester. Assault, ABH, GBH, harassment, public order charges. 24/7 police station help. Book your free confidential consultation!
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Criminal defence in Manchester means dealing with one of the busiest court systems in England. Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court processes thousands of cases each year. Manchester Crown Court sits across two buildings: Crown Square for the most serious matters and Minshull Street for the rest. Greater Manchester Police is the third-largest force in England and Wales, and its policing approach generates a heavy caseload of assault, public order and weapons charges.
Scarsdale Solicitors is a private criminal defence firm based in Rochdale, 15 minutes from central Manchester. We attend police stations across Greater Manchester at any hour, represent clients at Manchester magistrates’ and Crown Court hearings, and handle cases from charge through to trial. Shazia Ali, our director, has practised criminal law for over 20 years and personally oversees every Manchester case.
We are a paid-services-only firm. We do not offer Legal Aid. That means direct solicitor access from day one, fixed fee quotes before you instruct us, and no waiting for funding decisions while your case sits in limbo.
Manchester produces a high volume of assault cases. Nightlife in the city centre, incidents at the Etihad and Old Trafford on match days, and disputes that escalate on public transport all lead to charges.
Common assault under Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 covers any unlawful physical contact or making someone fear immediate violence. It is a summary offence heard at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court, carrying a maximum of 6 months.
ABH under Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 covers injuries beyond the trifling (bruising, cuts, a broken tooth). ABH is an either-way offence with a maximum of 5 years at the Crown Court. We regularly defend ABH cases at both the magistrates’ court and Minshull Street Crown Court.
GBH covers serious injuries. Section 20 (inflicting GBH) and Section 18 (GBH with intent) are charged under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Section 18 is the more serious charge. It requires proof that you intended to cause serious harm, and it carries a maximum of life imprisonment. Section 20 carries a maximum of 5 years.
We challenge assault charges by examining the evidence at every level: CCTV from Manchester’s extensive camera network, body-worn camera footage from GMP officers, medical evidence of the alleged injuries, and witness credibility. Self-defence arguments under Section 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 are particularly effective where our client was responding to a threat.
Harassment cases in Manchester often involve complex personal histories. The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 requires a “course of conduct,” meaning at least two incidents of behaviour that amount to harassment. One-off incidents are not enough.
We see three common patterns in Manchester harassment cases:
Stalking under Sections 2A and 4A adds behaviours such as following, monitoring, and interfering with property. Greater Manchester Police have increased stalking charges in recent years, and the sentences are steeper than basic harassment, with up to 10 years for stalking involving fear of violence.
Manchester’s city centre nightlife, football events and protest activity generate a steady stream of public order charges. Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 (threatening or abusive words or behaviour) is the most common charge, and also the most commonly overcharged. GMP officers sometimes charge Section 5 after minor verbal exchanges that would not meet the legal threshold.
Affray (Section 3) is more serious. The prosecution must prove that your behaviour would have caused a reasonable person to fear for their safety. Pub incidents, late-night confrontations, and group altercations in the Northern Quarter, Deansgate, and Printworks are common scenarios. We have defended affray cases at Manchester Crown Court where the CCTV evidence, once properly analysed, showed our client was not the aggressor.
We also handle Section 4 (fear or provocation of violence) and Section 2 (violent disorder) charges, though violent disorder is rare and carries up to 5 years.
Stop and search operations by GMP across Manchester (particularly in the city centre, Moss Side, Longsight and Cheetham Hill) produce weapons charges. The offences fall under Section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 (offensive weapons) and Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (bladed articles).
We challenge weapons charges on two fronts. First, the search itself: did GMP have reasonable grounds under PACE Code A? If the stop and search was unlawful, the evidence is potentially inadmissible. Second, the statutory defence: did you have a reasonable excuse or lawful authority for carrying the item? Trade tools, religious items (the Sikh kirpan), and items left in bags from lawful activities are all legitimate defences that we have successfully argued.
Criminal damage charges in Manchester range from minor vandalism to arson. Low-value damage (under £5,000) is summary-only at the magistrates’ court with a maximum fine of £2,500. Higher-value damage is either-way with a maximum of 10 years at the Crown Court. Arson (criminal damage by fire) is indictable-only and carries life imprisonment.
We defend criminal damage cases by examining the evidence of intent, the accuracy of the valuation, and whether lawful defences apply (honest belief in consent, protection of property).
Greater Manchester Police operates custody suites at multiple locations across the force area. When you are arrested and taken into custody, you have the right to speak to a solicitor before being interviewed. We attend police stations across Manchester at any hour.
The stations where we most frequently attend:
Here is what happens when you contact us from custody:
If GMP want to extend your detention beyond 24 hours (or 36 hours for indictable offences), we attend the superintendent’s review or magistrates’ hearing to argue against extended detention.
Your case will be listed at one of these courts, depending on the offence classification:
Court | Handles | Location |
|---|---|---|
Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court | All summary and either-way offences | Crown Square, Manchester |
Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square) | Serious indictable offences, complex trials | Crown Square, Manchester |
Manchester Crown Court (Minshull Street) | Either-way offences sent to Crown Court, less complex trials | Minshull Street, Manchester |
Cases from Rochdale, Oldham, Bury, and other Greater Manchester boroughs are generally listed at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court for first hearings. Crown Court cases from across Greater Manchester are allocated to either Crown Square or Minshull Street, depending on the seriousness and complexity.
We are a paid-services-only firm. We do not offer Legal Aid.
This is what that means in practice:
We do not handle sexual offence cases. If you need a solicitor for a sexual offence charge in Manchester, we can refer you to a specialist firm.
Book your free confidential consultation to discuss your Manchester case.
We aim to attend Manchester custody suites within 1-2 hours of your call, depending on the station location and time of day. We are based in Rochdale, 15 minutes from central Manchester, and we have attended stations across the force area at all hours.
We charge fixed fees based on the offence and the court. A common assault case at the magistrates’ court costs less than a GBH trial at the Crown Court. We provide a fee quote during your free initial consultation with no obligation to proceed.
Your first appearance is usually a short hearing where the charge is read, you enter a plea, and the court decides on bail. If you plead guilty, sentencing may happen on the same day for minor offences. If you plead not guilty, the court sets a trial date. We prepare you for each hearing and attend with you.
It depends on the circumstances. For first-time offenders charged with common assault, the CPS may offer a caution or conditional caution instead of prosecution. At court, a conditional discharge or absolute discharge means you have a conviction on record, but it may become spent quickly. An acquittal at trial means no criminal record at all.
Sentencing depends on the section charged. Section 20 GBH (inflicting grievous bodily harm) carries a maximum of 5 years. Section 18 GBH (with intent) carries a maximum of life imprisonment. The Sentencing Council guidelines set starting points based on the level of harm and the offender’s culpability. A first-time Section 20 offence with lower culpability may result in a community order rather than custody.
Yes. We are based in Rochdale and cover the whole of Greater Manchester: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Salford, Wigan. We also handle cases across England and Wales. Our national criminal defence hub page has more detail on our coverage.
Not automatically. The police do not contact employers unless the offence is directly connected to your work (for example, offences involving children for people who work with children). Your employer may find out through DBS checks, media reporting, or bail conditions that affect your ability to work. We advise on managing these risks as part of your defence.
No. Scarsdale Solicitors does not handle sexual offence cases. We focus on assault, harassment, public order, weapons charges, criminal damage, and serious driving offences. If you need a solicitor for a sexual offence allegation, we can refer you to a specialist firm.