Now or Never? How Imminent Must a Fear of Violence be for the Purposes of s. 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997? R v Qosja (Robert) [2016] EWCA Crim 1543

摘要

The complainant in this case, KL, began working in a bar in Nunhead on 9 July 2015. Soon thereafter, she came across the appellant who was a regular at the bar. A relationship developed between the two, although this was platonic and somewhat unwelcome as far as KL was concerned. Between the periods of 10 July to 31 July the following events took place. The complainant reluctantly gave the appellant her number when he requested it and then subsequently accepted his offer for a replacement phone when she lost hers. One evening, she accepted a lift home from the appellant and he offered her a job opportunity as a babysitter or cleaner for one of his friends. On arriving at the complainant's home, the appellant stayed to use the toilet and have a cup of tea. He then offered the complainant a room in his house rent-free, which she duly declined. On one occasion, when the complainant was ill, she was visited by the appellant, who stayed and chatted for over two hours, although the complainant did not expect him to stay for so long. During the friendship, the appellant made various phone calls and sent text messages to KL, some of which she found inappropriate and unwelcome. One particular text referred to her as 'baby girl'.