Robbery/Blackmail

Beryl is seething with jealousy when she discovers her new boyfriend, Mat, is seeing Tanya. She posts a blackmail letter to Tanya saying that she had better leave Matt alone and send her 2k or she’d tell Matt that Tanya used to work in the sex industry. She sends the letter to the wrong address. The letter is subsequently given to Tanya who ignores it. At what point, if any, is blackmail committed?

King approaches Maggie who has her 8 month old daughter in a pushchair. He says “hand over your purse Mrs, or the kid gets it”. What offence has been committed?

Trish sends a blackmail text to Isobel. Isobel’s husband, David, reads the text and deletes it. A few days later he tells Isobel about the text. Isobel says she doesn’t fear anything Trish can do. At what point, if any, is blackmail committed?

Smith and Jones are in the park when they see Mr Davis. Davis is blind. He has a guide dog, is wearing dark glasses and is using a white stick. These two see an easy victim and they decide to rob him. They approach Davis and demand his wallet and mobile ‘phone or he’ll get a beating. Davis is however, also deaf and walks past the two. They then spot others entering the park and make off. What offence, if any, have they committed?

Jones goes into a bank and speaks to the teller and says “If you don’t fill this bag with money, I’ll shoot the woman at the door”. The woman is 20 yards away and cannot hear what is said. What offence is committed?

Larry stops a lady in the park walking her dog. He is holding a large carving knife and says, “Hand over your purse, or the dog gets it”. What offence has Larry committed?

Smith and Jones are loitering in the park looking for victims. They spot Mr Green, who is being led by his guide dog. He has a white stick and is wearing dark glasses. They conclude that a blind man would be easy to rob and approach him demanding money. Mr Green drops his wallet on the floor when Smith deliberately pushes him to make him drop it. Smith picks it up. Mr Green is also profoundly deaf and walks passed the two thinking he has just bumped into something. Smith and Jones, on seeing others in the park make off. Are they guilty of robbery? 

Which of the following amounts to robbery?

Jason runs along the sea front and grabs Hilda’s shoulder bag. Hilda holds onto her bag, but it is snatched away by Jason who drops the handbag which is recovered by Hilda. What offence has Jason committed?

Gain and loss extend to what?

Fred has bought a brand new television that Monica wants. Monica threatens that if Fred does not hand over the TV immediately, Monica will beat Fred with a crowbar. Fred hands over the TV. What offence has Monica committed?

Fred has bought a brand new television that Monica wants. Monica threatens that if Fred does not hand over the TV immediately, Monica will send Fred’s wife photographs of him with another woman. Fred hands over the TV. What offence has Monica committed?

To commit blackmail, the offender must…

A masked man goes into the bank and hands a note to the cashier telling him to hand over the cash and if he doesn’t do it he’ll start shooting the customers and other staff. No-one else hears his demand. What offence is committed?

Keith intends to steal electrical goods from a local shop. He trespasses by sneaking in through the staff entrance and starts loading his bag up with items. Just as he has finished and is looking for the exit, he is disturbed by the store security guard. Keith repeatedly assaults the security guard in order to escape with his goods. What offence has been committed?

In the blackmail legislation a demand with menaces is unwarranted unless the person making it does so in the belief of what?

Gavin runs up behind Jane and lifts her handbag from her shoulder. She runs after him and tries to recover her bag. Before catching him he drops the bag. Jane grabs her bag and Gavin says “hand it over ‘else I’ll do you”. She lets the bag go and Gavin runs off with the bag. What offence has been committed?

Mary is in the park pushing a pram containing her 8 week old daughter. Jones stops her and says “If you don’t give me your purse I’ll do the kid” he waves a knife in the direction of the child. What offence has Jones committed?

George hands a note to a bank cashier stating. ‘Robbery. Put money in bag or I’ll shoot the security guard’. The guard is at the door unaware of what’s going on. What offence is committed?

Colin and Andrew are both drunk and are fighting in the park. Andrew’s wallet falls from his pocket and is picked up by Colin. Andrew says “give it back”. Colin says, “Your wife will divorce you when she sees that picture in the wallet”. Colin hits him again just because he can, and runs off. What offence is committed?