Blackmailers Turned up at my house
In January 1998, I was in the house, the Wifey calls me saying she wants to come and see me in a couple of days to discuss the divorce. She turns up with Gordon Moores, a Private Investigator who they had hired for £40 to blackmail me. Moores accuses me of (historical) sexual abuse against the two stepdaughters. If I move out of the house and leave Bournemouth immediately, no more be said (this Blackmail is later admitted by the eldest stepdaughter. Moores confirms this in a letter written on 26 February 1998.
See pages 60-61 in Tracey Gores police statement, in Documents
Blackmail under the Theft Act 1968
A person is guilty of Blackmail if, with a view to gain for himself or another or with intent to cause loss to another, he makes any unwarranted demand with menaces; and for this purpose a demand with menaces is unwarranted unless the person making it does so in the belief—
(a that he has reasonable grounds for making the demand; and
(b) that the use of the menaces is a proper means of reinforcing the demand.
(2) The nature of the Act or omission demanded is immaterial, and it is also immaterial whether the menaces relate to action to be taken by the person making the demand.
(3) A person guilty of Blackmail shall on conviction on indictment be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.
R v Hadjou [1989] 11 Cr. App. R. (S) 29 In the calendar of criminal offences Blackmail was one of the ugliest and most vicious because it involved what one found so often, attempted murder of the soul. Deterrence was perhaps the most important part of the sentence in such a case.
(4) R v Hollinworth and Yates [1994] 15 Cr. App. R. (S) 258 Current Sentencing Practice B6-63A15. Pleaded guilty to Blackmail. The defendants sent notes to a man aged 63, threatening to accuse him of offences against boys unless he was paid. Significant mental anguish as the demands were carefully planned and repeated even though the complainant was not homosexual. 3 years.
(5) R v Daniels [2002] 1 Cr. App. R. (S) 100 (at 443); EWCA Crim. 1843 The defendant threatened to make completely unfounded allegations that the complainant had been cottaging. A victim is more likely to succumb if the allegations are true. 2 years.
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