Threatening with an article with blade/point or offensive weapon

s.139AA(1) Criminal Justice Act 1988, s.1A Prevention of Crime Act 1953 · Triable either way

Sentencing framework

The guideline for sentencing offenders for threatening with bladed articles or offensive weapons is structured around the assessment of culpability and harm, which determines the offence category. The starting point and sentence range differ based on these assessments, addressing both statutory and non-statutory aggravating and mitigating factors.

Maximum sentence

4 years’ custody

Court

Triable either way

Offence range

6 months’ custody – 3 years’ custody

Aggravating factors

·Previous convictions
·Offence committed whilst on bail
·Victim is targeted due to a vulnerability (or a perceived vulnerability)
·Offence was committed as part of a group
·Attempts to conceal identity
·Offence committed in a domestic abuse context
·Commission of offence whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs
·Attempts to conceal/dispose of evidence
·Offence committed against those working in the public sector or providing a service to the public
·Steps taken to prevent the victim reporting or obtaining assistance and/or from assisting or supporting the prosecution
·Failure to comply with current court orders
·Offence committed on licence or post sentence supervision
·Offences taken into consideration
·Failure to respond to warnings about behaviour

Mitigating factors

·No previous convictions or no relevant/recent convictions
·Positive character and/or exemplary conduct (regardless of previous convictions)
·Serious medical condition requiring urgent, intensive or long-term treatment
·Age and/or lack of maturity (which may be applicable to offenders aged 18-25)
·Little or no planning
·Sole or primary carer for dependent relatives
·Co-operation with the police
·Pregnancy, childbirth and post-natal care
·Difficult and/or deprived background or personal circumstances
·Prospects of or in work, training or education

Sentencing range explorer

Select the culpability level and harm category to see the guideline's starting point and category range. This is an educational illustration of the published guideline — not a sentence calculation, and not legal advice. Courts apply the full step-by-step process, aggravating and mitigating factors, and the totality principle.

Culpability

Harm

Select a culpability level and a harm category above.

The sentencing process, step by step

Step 1 — determining the offence category
Step 2 — starting point and category range
Step 3 — minimum terms
Step 4 — consideration for assistance to the prosecution
Step 5 — reduction for guilty pleas
Step 6 — totality principle
Step 7 — ancillary orders
Step 8 — reasons
Step 9 — consideration for time spent on bail

Guideline notes

This offence is subject to statutory minimum sentencing provisions.

Always read the full guideline

This is a one-page summary. For any live case, sentencing exercise, or legal advice the authoritative source is the Sentencing Council's own definitive guideline — including the category bands, step-by-step sentencing approach, and all statutory factors not captured here.

Open the full guideline on sentencingcouncil.org.uk

Source: Sentencing Council · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-28. Not legal advice — see a regulated adviser for any live case.