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Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person

1. OCR, Case scenario

Kate and Mark are partners. Kate reluctantly allows him to brand the letter 'M' on her right thigh, with a piece of wire, as a token of their love.  The pain is so great that Kate lashes out uncontrollably and strikes Mark in the face, breaking his glasses and cutting his eyebrow.  Mark is now so annoyed that he retaliates by hitting out at Kate, catching her in the face and causing her nose to bleed.  Kate storms out, saying she will never forgive him for hitting her.

For the next three months Mark telephones Kate at her parent's house as many as ten times a day.  Each time he threatens her that she will 'regret it' if she ever decides to goes out with another man. Kate becomes so depressed that she cannot leave the house and gives up her job.

Consider what offences, if any, have been committed by Kate and Mark and whether any defences are available to either of them. [20]