255.—Any person who by any means whatsoever—

(a) procures or persuades or attempts to procure or persuade any person subject to military law to desert or absent himself without leave, or

(b) procures or persuades or attempts to procure or persuade any reservist to desert or absent himself without leave within the meaning of section 243, or

(c) knowing that a person subject to military law is about to desert or absent himself without leave, aids or assists him in deserting or absenting himself without leave, or

(d) knowing that a reservist is about to desert or absent himself without leave within the meaning of section 243, aids or assists him in so deserting or absenting himself without leave, or

(e) knowing any person subject to military law to be a deserter or an absentee, conceals such person or aids or assists in concealing him or aids or assists in his rescue, or

(f) knowing any reservist to be a deserter or an absentee without leave within the meaning of section 243, conceals such man or aids or assists in concealing him or aids or assists in his rescue,

shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding F396[500] pounds or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment.