Theft offences
At its most basic level, theft will have been committed if you:
- Took a thing away and
- That thing belonged to another person and
- You intended to permanently deprive that person of that thing and
- You did not have the consent of the thing’s owner
All theft-related offences carry with them the potential for terms of imprisonment. If you are found guilty of a theft-related offence, whether a custodial sentence is imposed will depend on factors including:
- The number of charges
- The severity of charges
- Whether you trespassed on private property when committing the theft
- Whether you caused or threatened injury to another person when committing the theft
- Whether you already have a criminal record
Because of the potentially serious consequences of a theft-related charge, it is extremely important that you seek advice from a criminal lawyer as soon as possible.
FAQ's
Regardless of the specific charge, theft-related charges are always treated extremely seriously by the courts and it is extremely important that you obtain legal advice and representation as soon as possible.
The purpose of instructing a lawyer is to ensure that you are fully aware of your rights as well as the strength of the evidence against you. A good lawyer can make a huge difference to the outcome of a theft-related charge.
If you wish to plead guilty to a theft-related charge, BDN Lawyers will provide you with a simple fixed quote.
If you wish to defend a charge, then BDN Lawyers will provide a quote having consideration to:
- The number of charges
- The amount of evidence
- The number of anticipated court attendances
- The anticipated duration of the trial
- Whether a barrister is to be instructed
An experienced lawyer will examine the facts, circumstances and evidence surrounding a charge and advise you as to your prospects of success of defending a charge. Upon receiving this advice, you will be in a position to make a decision about whether you wish to plead guilty or not guilty.
Whether a custodial sentence is imposed will depend on:
- Whether you have a criminal record
- The number of charges and
- The seriousness of the charge(s)
There are many sentencing options available to courts, and an experienced solicitor will maximise your chances of achieving a non-custodial outcome.