Blackmail — Main Cases And Chains

Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 11 World Records and 7 Distinctions, Educate A Change.

Definition Of Blackmail

Under s21 Theft Act 1968:

• Blackmail Occurs Where A Person
• Makes Unwarranted Demand
• With Menaces
• With View To Gain For Self/Another
OR
• Intent To Cause Loss To Another

Core Structure Of Blackmail

Universal Blackmail Chain

• Defendant Makes Demand
• Demand Accompanied By Menaces
• Demand Is Unwarranted
• Defendant Intends Gain Or Loss
• Blackmail Established

Demand Chains

Definition Of Demand

Chain

• Demand Need Not Be Express
• Demand May Be Implied
• Demand Need Not Be Aggressive
• Ordinary Requests May Constitute Demand
• Jury Determines Existence Of Demand

Main Case — Collister And Warhurst

Principle

• Demand May Be Implied Rather Than Explicit

Main Case — Clear

Principle

• Demand Need Not Use Specific Words

Demand High-Level Chain

• Defendant Communicates Requirement
• Demand May Be Express/Implied
• Formal Language Not Necessary
• Demand Established

Menaces Chains

Definition Of Menaces

Chain

• Menaces Include Threats Or Pressure
• Threat Need Not Be Violence
• Threat May Be Economic/Reputational
• Menaces Determined Objectively
• Threat Must Influence Ordinary Person

Main Case — Thorne v Motor Trade Association

Principle

• Menaces Include Pressure That Would Influence Ordinary Person

Main Case — Lawrence And Pomroy

Principle

• Menaces May Include Threats Affecting Vulnerable Victim

Main Case — Harry

Principle

• Threats May Include Exposure/Reputation Damage

Menaces High-Level Chain

• Defendant Uses Threat/Pressure
• Threat Need Not Be Violent
• Ordinary Person Could Feel Pressured
• Menaces Established

Nature Of Threat Chains

Threat Types

Threats May Include:

• Violence
• Exposure Of Secrets
• Reputational Harm
• Economic Harm
• Property Damage
• Social Harm

Threat Chain

• Defendant Communicates Threat
• Threat Creates Pressure
• Victim Influenced Through Fear/Concern
• Menaces Requirement Established

Main Case — Garwood

Principle

• Threat Need Not Terrify Victim
• Pressure Sufficient

Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 11 World Records and 7 Distinctions, Educate A Change.

Unwarranted Demand Chains

Definition Of Unwarranted Demand

Under s21 Theft Act 1968:

Demand Is Unwarranted Unless Defendant Believes:

• Reasonable Grounds Exist For Demand
AND
• Menaces Proper Means Of Reinforcement

Unwarranted Demand Chain

• Court Examines Defendant Belief
• Both Requirements Must Exist
• Genuine Belief Considered Subjectively
• Jury Evaluates Evidence
• Unwarranted Demand Established If Conditions Fail

Main Case — Harvey

Principle

• Defendant’s Belief Assessed Subjectively

Main Case — Lambert

Principle

• Even Genuine Claims May Become Blackmail If Menaces Improper

Main Case — Collister And Warhurst

Principle

• Threatening Exposure To Obtain Money Constituted Blackmail

Unwarranted Demand High-Level Chain

• Defendant Makes Demand
• Court Assesses Belief
• Menaces Examined
• Improper Pressure Creates Liability
• Demand Unwarranted

Subjective Belief Chains

Defendant Belief Principle

Chain

• Defendant Need Only Honestly Believe Demand Justified
• Belief Need Not Be Reasonable
• Subjective Standard Applied
• Honest Belief May Prevent Liability

Main Case — Harvey

Principle

• Honest Belief Sufficient Even If Unreasonable

Gain And Loss Chains

Definition Of Gain/Loss

Under Theft Act 1968:

• Gain Includes Keeping What One Has
• Obtaining New Property/Money
• Loss Includes Losing Existing Property
• Temporary Gain/Loss Sufficient

Gain/Loss Chain

• Defendant Intends Financial/Property Benefit
OR
• Defendant Intends Victim Loss
• Actual Gain/Loss Not Necessary
• Intent Alone Sufficient

Main Case — Bevans

Principle

• Gain/Loss Broadly Interpreted

Gain/Loss High-Level Chain

• Defendant Intends Benefit/Loss
• Property/Money Focused
• Actual Transfer Unnecessary
• Gain/Loss Requirement Established

Intent Chains

Mens Rea Of Blackmail

Chain

• Defendant Intends Demand
• Defendant Intends Menaces
• Defendant Acts For Gain/Loss
• Dishonest Pressure Applied
• Mens Rea Established

Main Case — Harvey

Principle

• Belief Regarding Demand Important For Mens Rea

Conditional Threat Chains

Conditional Threat Principle

Chain

• Threat May Depend On Victim Refusal
• Conditional Pressure Still Constitutes Menaces
• Blackmail Exists Even If Threat Avoidable

Main Case — Thorne v Motor Trade Association

Principle

• Conditional Economic Threats Constituted Menaces

Economic Threat Chains

Economic Menaces

Chain

• Financial Pressure May Constitute Menaces
• Economic Harm Can Create Fear
• Threat Need Not Be Physical Violence
• Business/Financial Pressure Sufficient

Main Case — Thorne v Motor Trade Association

Principle

• Economic Pressure Constituted Menaces

Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 11 World Records and 7 Distinctions, Educate A Change.

Reputational Threat Chains

Reputation Threat Principle

Chain

• Threat To Reputation May Constitute Menaces
• Exposure Of Secrets May Create Pressure
• Public Embarrassment Can Amount To Threat
• Reputational Harm Sufficient

Main Case — Harry

Principle

• Threats Of Exposure Constituted Menaces

Immediate Payment Chains

Demand For Immediate Payment

Chain

• Defendant Demands Property/Money
• Threat Supports Demand
• Pressure Intended To Obtain Compliance
• Blackmail Liability May Arise

Main Case — Lambert

Principle

• Demanding Payment Through Threats Constituted Blackmail

Victim Vulnerability Chains

Vulnerable Victim Principle

Chain

• Threat Impact May Depend On Victim Characteristics
• Vulnerable Victims More Easily Influenced
• Courts Consider Actual Circumstances
• Menaces Broader Where Vulnerability Known

Main Case — Lawrence And Pomroy

Principle

• Threats Particularly Effective Against Vulnerable Victim

Blackmail Universal Exam Chain

• Defendant Makes Demand
• Demand Accompanied By Menaces
• Threat Creates Pressure
• Demand Unwarranted
• Defendant Intends Gain/Loss
• Blackmail Established

High-Level Blackmail Chains

Demand Universal Chain

• Defendant Makes Requirement
• Demand May Be Implied
• Formal Words Unnecessary
• Demand Established

Menaces Universal Chain

• Defendant Uses Threat/Pressure
• Threat Influences Ordinary Person
OR
• Particularly Influences Vulnerable Victim
• Menaces Established

Unwarranted Demand Universal Chain

• Defendant Believes Demand Justified
• Defendant Believes Menaces Proper
• Court Assesses Subjective Belief
• Improper Threat Creates Liability

Gain/Loss Universal Chain

• Defendant Intends Benefit/Loss
• Actual Transfer Not Required
• Financial/Property Focus Present
• Gain/Loss Requirement Established

Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 11 World Records and 7 Distinctions, Educate A Change.

Most Important Blackmail Cases To Memorise

Most Important Exam Chains

Universal Blackmail Chain

• Defendant Makes Demand
• Menaces Used
• Threat Creates Pressure
• Demand Unwarranted
• Gain/Loss Intended
• Blackmail Established

Menaces Universal Chain

• Threat/Pressure Applied
• Threat Need Not Be Violent
• Economic/Reputational Harm Sufficient
• Menaces Established

Subjective Belief Universal Chain

• Defendant Believes Demand Justified
• Defendant Believes Menaces Proper
• Court Applies Subjective Test
• Liability Depends On Honest Belief

Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia (AYLOTI), World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 11 World Records and 7 Distinctions, Educate A Change.