6Meaning of *assault* and *sexual assault*

6 Meaning of *assault* and *sexual assault*

(1) For the purposes of this Act—

assault means the direct or indirect application of force by a person to the body of, or to clothing or equipment worn by, another person where the application of force—

(a) is—

(i) without lawful excuse; and

(ii) with intent to inflict, or being reckless as to the infliction of, bodily injury, pain, discomfort, damage, insult or deprivation of liberty; and

(b) results in the infliction of any such consequence (whether or not the consequence inflicted is the consequence intended or foreseen).

(2) For the purposes of this Act—

sexual assault means an assault of a sexual nature.

(3) In subsection (1)—

application of force includes—

(a) application of heat, light, electric current or any other form of energy; and

(b) application of matter in solid, liquid or gaseous form.