PART 1Offences

Penalties and sentencing

5Penalties

(1)

A person guilty of an offence under section 1 or 2 is liable—

(a)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life;

(b)

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding F1the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine or both.

(2)

A person guilty of an offence under section 4 is liable (unless subsection (3) applies)—

(a)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years;

(b)

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding F2the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine or both.

(3)

Where the offence under section 4 is committed by kidnapping or false imprisonment, a person guilty of that offence is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.

(4)

In relation to an offence committed before F32 May 2022, the references in subsections (1)(b) and (2)(b) to F4the general limit in a magistrates’ court are to be read as references to 6 months.