6.— (1) A person who—

( a) injures another by piercing the skin of that other with a syringe, or

( b) threatens to so injure another with a syringe,

with the intention of or where there is a likelihood of causing that other to believe that he or she may become infected with disease as a result of the injury caused or threatened shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) A person who—

( a) sprays, pours or puts onto another blood or any fluid or substance resembling blood, or

( b) threatens to spray, pour or put onto another blood or any fluid or substance resembling blood,

with the intention of or where there is a likelihood of causing that other to believe that he or she may become infected with disease as a result of the action caused or threatened shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) A person who in committing or attempting to commit an offence under subsection ( 1) or ( 2)—

( a) injures a third person with a syringe by piercing his or her skin, or

( b) sprays, pours or puts onto a third person blood or any fluid or substance resembling blood,

resulting in the third person believing that he or she may become infected with disease as a result of the injury or action caused shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection ( 1), ( 2) or ( 3) shall be liable—

( a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, or

( b) on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both.

(5) ( a) A person who intentionally injures another by piercing the skin of that other with a contaminated syringe shall be guilty of an offence.

( b) A person who intentionally sprays, pours or puts onto another contaminated blood shall be guilty of an offence.

( c) A person who in committing or attempting to commit an offence under paragraph ( a) or ( b)—

(i) injures a third person with a contaminated syringe by piercing his or her skin, or

(ii) sprays, pours or puts onto a third person contaminated blood,

shall be guilty of an offence.

( d) A person guilty of an offence under this subsection shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.