Pratt v Director of Public Prosecutions: QBD 21 Jun 2001

Whilst the law clearly allowed prosecutions under the Act after no more than two incidents of harassment, nevertheless, prosecutors should look to the reality of whether the acts complained of did in fact amount to a course of conduct under the Act. In this case, but marginally, they did. Prosecutors should look to the purpose of the Act which was to protect people from suffering alarm and distress.

Judges:

Latham LJ, Forbes J

Citations:

Times 22-Aug-2001, (2001) 165 JP 800

Statutes:

Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

CitedRegina v Patel (Nitin) CACD 11-Nov-2004
The defendant appealed his conviction under the 1977 Act.
Held: The judge directing a jury must require a finding that the different acts complained of had a sufficient connection with each other to form a ‘course of conduct’ within the Act. . .
CitedBanks v Ablex Ltd CA 24-Feb-2005
The claimant appealed denial of her claim for damages for psychological injury. She complained that her employer had failed to prevent her and other female employees being bullied by a co-worker, and they committed a breach of statutory duty in . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Crime

Updated: 30 November 2022; Ref: scu.162816