ABSTRACT
The ‘offence’ of criminal damage was introduced in 1971 to replace the old offence of malicious damage. There are really four main criminal damage offences: criminal damage, aggravated criminal damage, arson and aggravated arson.
Simple criminal damage occurs if D intentionally or recklessly destroys or damages property belonging to another.
Aggravated criminal damage occurs if D intentionally or recklessly destroys or damages their own or someone else’s property, intending or being reckless whether life would thereby be endangered.
Arson occurs if D intentionally or recklessly destroys or damages property, by fire.
Aggravated arson occurs if D intentionally or recklessly destroys or damages property, by fire, intending or being reckless whether life would thereby be endangered.
