Regarding work references, a company can say if someone has been sacked. Because that is a fact, and they are within their rights to state facts. But they don't tend to give opinions (eg sacked for laziness, dishonesty etc) because that leaves them open to defamation suits.
You're joking - not with (so called) justice in Britain - you'd probably be unlucky and get a caution. EDIT - -thank you for your 'dislike' Toby - just what is there to dislike in my post ? Could it be that, in truth, there really isn't much in the way of justice these days. If you'd bothered to do any research you might be horrified with the number of rapists who do not have any weight of justice thrown at them - and that's just where rapes are actually reported by the victim. Don't keep embarrassing yourself. I am running out of pity for you.
