Criminal law worksheet with answers

Free printable Criminal law worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

New worksheetPractise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, criminal damage by fire is charged as:

  1. AAffray
  2. BAggravated theft
  3. CArson
  4. DBurglary
2.Easy

Handling stolen goods (section 22 Theft Act 1968) requires that the defendant:

  1. ASold the goods for profit
  2. BStole the goods personally
  3. CKept the goods for over a month
  4. DKnew or believed the goods to be stolen
3.Easy

An "either-way" offence is one that:

  1. ACan be prosecuted either by the CPS or by the victim as a private prosecutor
  2. BCan lead either to prison or to a fine only
  3. CCan be committed either by act or by omission
  4. DCan be tried in either the magistrates' court or the Crown Court
4.Medium

The "thin skull" rule in criminal law means:

  1. AA frail victim breaks the chain of causation
  2. BThe victim's injuries must be foreseeable in extent
  3. CThe defendant must take the victim as they find them
  4. DOnly healthy victims are protected
5.Medium

D, who honestly but wrongly believes V is attacking a stranger, punches V. Following R v Williams (Gladstone), D:

  1. AIs liable, because the mistaken belief was not based on reasonable grounds
  2. BMust prove the belief on the balance of probabilities
  3. CIs judged on the facts as D honestly believed them to be
  4. DIs liable, because the mistake was about the facts
6.Medium

A, a lifeguard paid to watch a pool, reads a magazine while a child drowns. A could be liable for an omission because of:

  1. AA special relationship with the child's parents
  2. BBeing the only person who saw the child
  3. CHaving created the dangerous situation
  4. DA contractual duty to act
7.Hard

R v Gomez (1993) held that an appropriation in theft:

  1. ACan occur even when the owner consents, if the consent was obtained by deception
  2. BOnly occurs when the defendant leaves the shop
  3. CRequires a physical taking of the property
  4. DRequires that the act was not authorised by the owner, even if consent was obtained by fraud
8.Hard

Under the "transferred malice" doctrine, if A aims a blow at B but hits C:

  1. AA is only liable for attempted harm to C
  2. BA cannot be liable for harm to C because A had no mens rea at all in relation to C
  3. CA's intention towards B is transferred, so A can be liable for the harm to C
  4. DB becomes liable for the harm to C

Answer key

  1. 1. C · Arson
  2. 2. D · Knew or believed the goods to be stolen
  3. 3. D · Can be tried in either the magistrates' court or the Crown Court
  4. 4. C · The defendant must take the victim as they find them
  5. 5. C · Is judged on the facts as D honestly believed them to be
  6. 6. D · A contractual duty to act
  7. 7. A · Can occur even when the owner consents, if the consent was obtained by deception
  8. 8. C · A's intention towards B is transferred, so A can be liable for the harm to C

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.