Offence
Use threatening / abusive words / behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or 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
- 2,319
- Upcoming hearings
- 40
- Next listed date
- Mon, 26 October 2026
- Courts listing it
- 137
- Heard in
- Magistrates' Court (2,319)
- Sentencing guideline
- Disorderly behaviour/ Racially or religiously aggravated disorderly behaviour
- Official offence code
- PU86149
- The law
- Contrary to section 5(1) and (6) of the Public Order Act 1986.
- Where it can be tried
- Magistrates' court only
- Can lead to prison
- No
Courts that list it most
- Bristol Magistrates' Court (103 hearings)
- Westminster Magistrates' Court (61 hearings)
- Manchester Magistrates' Court (55 hearings)
- Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court (54 hearings)
- Leeds District Magistrates' Court (40 hearings)
- Derby Magistrates' Court (39 hearings)
- Norwich Magistrates' Court (39 hearings)
- Swansea Magistrates' Court (39 hearings)
- Newport (South Wales) Magistrates' Court (37 hearings)
- Liverpool & Knowsley Magistrates' Court (36 hearings)
- Guildford Magistrates' Court (34 hearings)
- Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court (33 hearings)
- Chester Magistrates' Court (32 hearings)
- Nottingham Magistrates' Court (32 hearings)
- Staines Magistrates' Court (32 hearings)
Related offences
- Use threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress
- On account of persons sex use threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / 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