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Criminal Defence

Blackmail & Extortion Solicitors

Raj Chada
Partner
Ruth Harris
Ruth Harris
Partner
Caroline Liggins
Caroline Liggins
Partner
Chloe Hartnell
Chloe Hartnell
Partner
Darrell Ennis-Gayle
Darrell Ennis-Gayle
Partner
Graeme Hydari
Graeme Hydari
Partner
Jessica Davis
Partner
Kerry Spence
Kerry Spence
Partner
Laura O'Brien
Laura O’Brien
Partner
Mike Schwarz
Mike Schwarz
Partner
Sean Caulfield
Sean Caulfield
Partner
Abbi Hart
Abbi Hart
Trainee
Amy Coulter
Amy Coulter
Trainee
Aneka Thirurajah
Aneka Thirurajah
Associate
Cally Gormally
Solicitor
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Charlotte Gamble
Paralegal
Donjeta Canolli
Donjeta Canolli
Paralegal
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Ella Ferriter
Paralegal
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Ellie Horan
Paralegal
Emily McNally
Emily McNally
Solicitor
Francesca Cociani
Francesca Cociani
Associate
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George Steel
Solicitor
Ghislaine Sandoval
Ghislaine Sandoval
Solicitor
Izzie Bond-Mills
Izzie Bond-Mills
Paralegal
Jessica Atkinson
Jessica Atkinson
Solicitor
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Jessica Murray
Solicitor
Justin Stuart-Mills
Consultant Solicitor
Katie McFadden
Katie McFadden
Associate
Kiran Mehta
Kiran Mehta
Consultant
Kit Gamble
Kit Gamble
Paralegal
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Lara Ideo
Solicitor
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Lauren Shore
Paralegal
Marina Afzal-Khan
Marina Afzal-Khan
Paralegal
Maxine Barker
Maxine Barker
Associate
May Spencer
Paralegal
Michael Ackah
Associate
Shelby Keppel
Shelby Keppel
Consultant
Shivani Mehta
Trainee
Shyan MacTavish_Website
Shyan MacTavish
Solicitor
Sinéad Vaughan
Paralegal
Somaya Yassine_Website
Somaya Yassine
Paralegal
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Viviane Bablin
Solicitor

Blackmail is a serious offence. To be found guilty, the prosecution has to prove that a demand has been made to someone, with serious or significant threats to that person, about what will happen to them if they don’t do what’s demanded.

The demand must be unreasonable and the threats must be an improper means of enforcing the demand. The blackmailer must be shown to have the intention to either make a gain for himself or a loss to another person.

Hodge Jones & Allen_Chambers 2023_pngOur Crime team have been ranked in the Chambers & Partners 2024 legal directory. The team was described as “extremely strong in terms of criminal defence and particularly protest cases” and were praised for their “dedication to clients”.

Legal 500 uk-top-tier-firm-202

“Hodge Jones & Allen are possibly the best firm of criminal solicitors conducting publicly funded work, and also offer an excellent service to privately funded clients. They have a large team that has continually prospered through recruiting excellent trainees and investing in people.” – Legal 500, 2024

Blackmail offences

This offence can encompass a wide range of scenarios, including ex-lovers, cybercriminals or organised crime.

Increasingly, people are being charged with and are the victims of “sextortion”. This is where blackmailers use sexually explicit images or content of the victim to threaten that these will be released online or to the victim’s loved ones or family if money isn’t sent.

"I REALLY CAN'T FIND FAULT IN THE SERVICE I RECEIVED, EXTREMELY HAPPY AND THE RESULT WAS FANTASTIC!"

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Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen?

Highly experienced lawyers

Being charged with blackmail can be extremely frightening. Our experienced serious crime team will assist you from the first interview at the police station through to trial and/or sentence. Our knowledgeable Defence lawyers have more than 40 years of experience fighting for our clients’ rights.

Solicitors who care

We’re passionate about defending every client tenaciously. We’ll advise you on the evidence and develop a case strategy with you. This may involve interviewing witnesses, instructing expert witnesses and running legal arguments on the exclusion of evidence and challenging witness anonymity. We work with top barristers and higher court advocates to provide the best litigation and advocacy.

Fighting on your behalf

We’re experienced in dealing with both individuals who’ve never been involved in the criminal justice system before and multi-handed, large scale organised crime operations. We pride ourselves on fighting for every client passionately and with a tailor-made approach which caters to each client’s needs.

"ONCE AGAIN LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR ALL YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT."

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Protecting reputations & careers

Our reputation as experts in sexual offences means we can act for you discreetly and with sensitivity.

We regularly represent professionals and understand the importance of protecting reputations and careers. Where there is associated disciplinary or regulatory action we can also assist.

We’ll instruct appropriate experts to mount a strong defence, depending on the specific facts of the case. For example, it may be that a fingerprint expert or a handwriting expert is required if the threat or demand was sent by post, or voice experts if there’s a recording. If the offence was committed over the internet then we have the specialist knowledge in cybercrime and fraud and relationships with experts to handle your case with expertise.

Contact our specialist team on
0808 271 9413
or request a call back.
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Featured cases

Fagan and Fergus v The United Kingdom – 347/13 – Communicated Case [2014] ECHR 322

Challenge of the UK courts allowing evidence to be given by anonymous witnesses in an allegation of kidnapping, false imprisonment and blackmail.

R v P

Partner, Kerry Spence, acted for a youth client charged with blackmail, false imprisonment and assault. She instructed specialist counsel Mr Jon Anders of 2KBW. Our client was one of five defendants. The prosecution alleged that the defendants were a group involved in a large scale drug dealing, resorting to violent means to recover drug related debts. Our client was the only defendant to be acquitted.

“I can’t thank you enough for your amazing and outstanding work. We are grateful to you all. I will highly recommend you to all my family and friends.”

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Leading criminal defence solicitors

Top ranked solicitors

Our top ranking team have years of experience representing the innocent. We stand up to the prosecution who will always be represented by an experienced solicitor or barrister. We know how to fight and win cases.

Here to help

Representing you at the Police Station or in Court If you need urgent representation call us today. Share a few details with us and we’ll let you know how we can help you.

Call FREE 24 hours a day

If you’re calling outside our offices hours (9:30am to 5:30pm) call our free phone 24/7 line 0808 274 8226. There will always be someone at the other end of the telephone to assist you.

Talk to our leading Criminal Defence team today on
0808 271 9413
or request a call back.
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Featured Cases

Blackmail & Extortion

Challenge of the UK courts allowing evidence to be given by anonymous witnesses in an allegation of kidnapping, false imprisonment and blackmail.

Blackmail & Extortion

Partner, Kerry Spence, acted for a youth client charged with blackmail, false imprisonment and assault. She instructed specialist counsel Mr Jon Anders of 2KBW. Our client was one of five defendants. The prosecution alleged that the defendants were a group involved in a large scale drug dealing, resorting to violent means to recover drug related debts. Our client was the only defendant to be acquitted.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I go to prison for this offence?

Blackmail carries a maximum sentence of fourteen years imprisonment. It’s likely that if you’re convicted of this offence you will receive a prison sentence. However, depending on the seriousness of the particular case and your personal circumstances our expert team may be able to persuade the court against immediate imprisonment.

If I'm arrested for blackmail, are there any other offences I could be charged with?

If you send threatening messages to someone, you can be charged with malicious communications.

If you threaten violence in order to make someone give you something you could be charged with robbery.

Publishing or sending images or videos of someone of a sexual nature without their consent could result in a revenge porn charge under the Sexual Offences Act.

What protection to my identity am I entitled to as a victim of blackmail?

There’s no automatic anonymity granted to alleged victims of blackmail and the usual principles of public justice apply. However, the prosecution can make an application for anonymity in certain situations which means a witnesses name isn’t mentioned in court.

This will be opposed by the defence and the current approach is that it will only be granted in exceptional cases. The prosecution can also make an application for a reporting restriction which, if granted, means your name and any identifying information cannot be published or repeated outside of court.

Special measures

Finally, the prosecution can apply for special measures to be granted. The court may make an order permitting an alleged victim to give evidence from behind a screen so those in the public gallery and the alleged perpetrator cannot see the person whilst they give their evidence.

Further Reading
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“A FIRM DEDICATED TO THE OLD-FASHIONED VIRTUE OF CONSCIENTIOUS HARD WORK IN PURSUIT OF THEIR CLIENTS’ INTERESTS”. - LEGAL 500 - RANKED AS TIER 1 (CRIME)

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