Court of Appeal success for Gareth Roberts

August 26, 2020

Gareth Roberts from Exchange Chambers appeared in the Court of Appeal where he successfully overturned a sentence of 3 years handed down to a 21 year old for offences of blackmail.

The appellant, who can’t be named, had accepted approaching men in online chat rooms, befriending then, enticing them to send illicit pictures of themselves before threatening to send these pictures to their wives and families unless they paid her money.

Gareth Roberts argued that although this was an ugly offence, the sentencing judge failed to give adequate weight to the appellant’s age, previous good character and the fact that she was herself was groomed and abused as a child.

The Appellate judges imposed a new sentence of 2 years 3 months.

Gareth Roberts was instructed by Russell & Russell Solicitors.