Offence
On account of persons sex use threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress
How often this offence appears in the published court listings for England and Wales, which courts list it most and where to read the official sentencing guideline.
- Hearings listed
- 188
- Upcoming hearings
- 3
- Next listed date
- Mon, 26 October 2026
- Courts listing it
- 70
- Heard in
- Magistrates' Court (188)
- Official offence code
- PU86159
- The law
- Contrary to section 4B(1) and (4) of the Public Order Act 1986.
- Where it can be tried
- Magistrates' court or Crown Court
- Can lead to prison
- Yes
Courts that list it most
- Bristol Magistrates' Court (19 hearings)
- Croydon Magistrates' Court (14 hearings)
- Westminster Magistrates' Court (14 hearings)
- Uxbridge Magistrates' Court (13 hearings)
- Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court (9 hearings)
- Thames Magistrates' Court (7 hearings)
- Willesden Magistrates' Court (6 hearings)
- Bromley Magistrates' Court (5 hearings)
- Derby Magistrates' Court (5 hearings)
- Birmingham Magistrates' Court (4 hearings)
- Leicester Magistrates' Court (4 hearings)
- Norwich Magistrates' Court (4 hearings)
- Southend Magistrates' Court (4 hearings)
- Basildon Magistrates' Court (3 hearings)
- Ipswich Magistrates' Court (3 hearings)
Related offences
- Use threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress
- Use threatening / abusive words / behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
- Use threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour with intent to cause fear of / provoke unlawful violence
- Racially / religiously aggravated harassment / alarm / distress by words / writing / behaviour
- Racially / religiously aggravated intentional harassment / alarm / distress - words / writing
- Racially / religiously aggravated harassment / alarm / distress by words / writing
- Share photograph or film of person in intimate state intending to cause alarm distress or humiliation
- Send photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation