graded offence

Another issue is whether a refurbished general code of offences against the person, including clearly graded offences and 'threats' offences, would not cater adequately for these occasions.

The sentencing decision in Billam (1986) marks out some of the more serious varieties of sexual assault, and this could be used as a basis for introducing a new scheme of three or four graded offences: there are precedents for this in other countries.