Offence
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
- 4,324
- Upcoming hearings
- 67
- Next listed date
- Mon, 26 October 2026
- Courts listing it
- 139
- Heard in
- Magistrates' Court (4,324)
- Sentencing guideline
- Disorderly behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress/ Racially or religiously aggravated disorderly behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress
- Official offence code
- PU86116
- The law
- Contrary to Section 4A(1) and (5) of the Public Order Act 1986.
- Where it can be tried
- Magistrates' court only
- Can lead to prison
- Yes
Courts that list it most
- Liverpool & Knowsley Magistrates' Court (157 hearings)
- Manchester Magistrates' Court (140 hearings)
- Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court (139 hearings)
- Croydon Magistrates' Court (104 hearings)
- Birmingham Magistrates' Court (101 hearings)
- Westminster Magistrates' Court (99 hearings)
- Bristol Magistrates' Court (94 hearings)
- Leeds District Magistrates' Court (89 hearings)
- Bromley Magistrates' Court (86 hearings)
- Willesden Magistrates' Court (84 hearings)
- Uxbridge Magistrates' Court (80 hearings)
- Nottingham Magistrates' Court (69 hearings)
- Thames Magistrates' Court (69 hearings)
- Derby Magistrates' Court (67 hearings)
- Sefton Magistrates' Court (61 hearings)
Related offences
- On account of persons sex 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