Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Blackmail - s.21 THEFT ACT 1968
- Actus Reus
- Making of unwarranted demands
with menaces
- Can be spoken word,
conduct or writing
- V need not hear or receive
the demand
- The demand need not be
made explicitly to V:
COLLISTER AND
WARHURST
- Where the demand is sent in
the post, the demand is
considered made when the
letter is posted: TREACY v DPP
- Any demand with menaces is unwarranted, unless: (s.21)
- He had reasonable
grounds for making the
demand
- The use of menaces was
a proper way of
reinforcing the demand
- The jury must be satisfied that
D believes BOTH of these
things: HARVEY, ULYETT AND PLUMMER
- Unwarranted
demand must be
made with
menaces
- Menace is an ordinary
word the jury will
usually understand
- Covers threats of violence to
persons, as well as threats to
damage property and to make
damaging allegations against V
whether truthful or not.
- Will be a demand with
menaces if an ordinary
person would be affected:
CLEAR
- Words or conduct that
would not intimidate or
influence anyone are
not menaces: HARRY
- A threat that would
only affect a timid
person is menaces if D
knew of V's timid
nature: GARWOOD
- D is still guilty if V does not give
in to the menaces
- Mens Rea
- At the time of the unwarranted
demand with menaces:
- D acted with a view to gain for
himself or another
- D acted with intent to
cause loss to another
- s.34 (2) (a) THEFT ACT 1968
- Intended gain or
loss must be of
money or other
property
- The intended gain or
loss can be
temporary
- Gain is not limited to
D making a profit:
LAWRENCE AND
POMROY
- Gain includes a gain by
D keeping what he has
- Loss includes a loss by V
not getting what they
should get