Grievous bodily harm (often abbreviated to GBH) is a term of art used in English criminal law which has become synonymous with the offences that are created by sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.
The distinction between these two sections is the requirement of specific intent for section 18.
The offence under section 18 is variously referred to as "wounding with intent" or "causing grievous bodily harm with intent". The words "with intent" refer to the specific intent required for this offence.
The offence under section 20 is variously referred to as "unlawful wounding", "malicious wounding" or "inflicting grievous bodily harm".
Read more about Grievous Bodily Harm: The Offences, Mode of Trial, Racially or Religiously Aggravated Offence
Famous quotes containing the words grievous, bodily and/or harm:
“They who do not understand that a man may be brought to hope that which of all things is the most grievous to him, have not observed with sufficient closeness the perversity of the human mind.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)
“He was a superior man. He did not value his bodily life in comparison with ideal things. He did not recognize unjust human laws, but resisted them as he was bid. For once we are lifted out of the trivialness and dust of politics into the region of truth and manhood.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Our repentances are generally not so much a concern and remorse for the harm we have done, as a fear of the harm we may have brought upon ourselves.”
—François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)