convictions stay with you for 10 years after they have been completed also, unless you have been given an absolute discharge. In this case you only need to tell people for 6 months.
Incorrect
A conviction becomes "spent" on varying time scales depending on the prison sentence received, some convictions are never spent
Relevant Rehabilitation Periods
Prison for more than two and a half years - Never
Prison for more than six months but less
than two and a half years - 10 years
Dismissal with disgrace from Her Majesty's service - 10 years
A sentence of Borstal training - 7 years
Prison for six months or less - 7 years
Dismissal from Her Majesty's service - 7 years
Imprisonment or detention in YOI or youth
custody for six months or less - 7 years
Detention in respect of conviction in service
disciplinary proceedings - 5 years
Fine - 5 years
Young offender detention for over six months
but less than two and a half years - 5 years
Probation order or community order - 5 years
Hospital order under Mental Health Act 1983 - 5 years or 2 years after order ceases to have effect, whichever is the longer
Young offender detention for six months or less - 3 years
Absolute discharge - 6 months
Conditional discharge, binding over, care order, supervision order, reception order - 1 year after making of order or 1 year after the order ends, whichever is longer
Excluded Sentences
Convictions resulting in the following sentences can never become spent:
A sentence of imprisonment, youth custody detention in a young offender institution or corrective training, for a term of more than two and a half years.
A sentence of imprisonment for life
A sentence of preventative detention
Detention during Her Majesty's Pleasure or for life or a sentence of custody for life.
Your mate wont be able to do anything apart from please guilty. From what has been stated here, he took it upon himself to confront the attacker with a physical attack of his own. The police wont look favourably on this if they decide to press charges. However, thats an if.
he doesn't have to admit to or tell the police anything, we still have a right to remain Silent in this country