CRIMINAL DAMAGE

COUNT 11

Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, sec 1(1) ‘a person who, without lawful excuse, destroys or damages any property belonging to another, intending to destroy or damage any such property, or being reckless as to whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged, shall be guilty of an offence.’

Where the damage is caused other than by fire, the offence is punishable
by imprisonment for 10 years. The Act does not specifically define ‘destroy’
or ‘damage.’

Where fire is used, viz: arson, the maximum penalty becomes life
imprisonment.