Warwickshire woman who blackmailed man to hand over £5k in fake rape scam is jailed

By James Smith 15th Sep 2023

Tahereh Ghorbanlou of Upper Lighthorne has been jailed for two years (image via SWNS)
Tahereh Ghorbanlou of Upper Lighthorne has been jailed for two years (image via SWNS)

A South Warwickshire woman who threatened to report a man for rape unless he paid her £5,000 after they had consensual sex has been jailed for more than two years.

Tahereh Ghorbanlou, 34, blackmailed her victim after meeting him through an online dating app in March 2021.

A court heard they began chatting with each other before arranging to meet at the victim's house in Nottingham on March 12 that year.

They had a drink together before having consensual sex and afterwards Ghorbanlou made a remark he would have to pay for sex next time.

The victim dismissed this as a joke and they parted on 'good terms' but over the following days she sent him messages trying to extort cash from him.

She claimed she was injured and in pain and he would be fined £30,000 if a sexual offence allegation was reported to police.

Ghorbanlou, of Upper Lighthorne, then sent him her bank details demanding he transferred £5,000 or she would go to police and accuse him of 'sexual violence'.

The victim immediately reported the threats to officers and an investigation into her fake rape scam was launched.

Ghorbanlou was arrested and told officers she was the victim of sexual violence – but refused to provide any written statement or sign the comments she had made.

After being bailed, she contacted police again on March 20, 2021 to make a counter-allegation of rape against the man.

Nottinghamshire Police said detectives carried out investigations into both allegations but found no evidence Ghorbanlou was the victim of any sexual offence.

And mobile phone records also revealed the attempts Ghorbanlou had made to blackmail the man.

She had searched the internet and Googled 'sexual violence price' and 'sexual violence definition' the day after the alleged rape.

Ghorbanlou, made no comment in police interviews but eventually pleaded guilty to blackmail more than two years later in May.

She was jailed for two years and three months at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing last Wednesday (6/9).

Detective Inspector Chris Berryman, of Nottinghamshire Police, said afterwards: "The victim in this case did absolutely the right thing in reporting Ghorbanlou's demands to us.

"She has made devious and dishonest threats in an attempt to extort cash from the victim and then made a completely false allegation of rape against him.

"I am pleased her callous behaviour has been exposed by our investigation and a judge has seen fit to put her behind bars.

"I also hope this case shows Nottinghamshire Police takes blackmail and extortion offences very seriously and is there to help anyone who finds themselves being threatened like this.

"The victim has been wrongly accused of a very serious offence and then put through a two-year ordeal and court proceedings.

"The prison sentence handed down to Ghorbanlou will hopefully allow him to move on with his life."

     

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