4. Offences under the Theft Act Flashcards

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1
Q

Elements of Theft under s.1 of TA 1968

A

Dishonest appropriation of the property belonging to another with intent to permanently deprive.

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2
Q

What is appropriation?

A

Any assumption of the rights of an owner.
- mere touching suffices
- can occur online (ie. posting someone else’s picture)

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3
Q

In a shop, when does appropriation occur?

A

When the item is picked up, even if no mens rea at that time

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4
Q

Can the actus reus and mens rea occur at separate times and still make out the offence of theft?

A

Yes, as long as there is coincidence of the two at some point.

  • Allows for theft to be established in cases of secondary appropriation
    (ie. mistakenly taking someone else’s coat, and deciding to keep it)
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5
Q

What is property for the purposes of theft?

A

Money, and all other property, including intangible property, real property, and personal property

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6
Q

Are fruit, foliage, mushrooms, flowers considered ‘property’ under TA?

A

Only if collected for commercial purposes (ie. selling them at market)

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7
Q

Are fruit, foliage, mushrooms, flowers consider ‘property’ under TA?

A

Only if collected for commercial purposes (ie. selling them at market) (s.4(3) TA)

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8
Q

What forms of ‘property’ are excluded under TA, and thus cannot be stolen?

A
  • confidential information
  • Electricity
  • Wildlife (unless dead)
  • Services
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9
Q

If a person cuts a branches off their neighbour’s tree to start their fireplace, would the branches be considered ‘property’ under TA?

A

YES - property includes any fixture in land (ie. cannot be taken out w/out leaving damage)

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10
Q

Two-limb Ivey test for dishonesty

A
  1. Subjective limb
    Ascertain facts as D believed them to be, taking into account his knowledge, traits, and circumstances.
  2. Objective limb
    Whether ordinary decent people, looking at facts of case through D’s POV, would conclude that D acted dishonestly?
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11
Q

For the offence of theft (s.1), is it necessary to show that the defendant actually succeeded in permanently depriving another of their property?

A

No - what matters is D’s intention to do so.

  • borrowing and lending for an extended period of time so as to amount to outright taking amount = suffices (R v Marshal)
  • parting way with someone else’s property w/ risk of non-return (ie. pawning someone else’s earning)
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12
Q

What are three situations where the defendant will not be deemed to be dishonest?

A

Where the defendant believes they:

  1. Have a right to the property in law;
  2. Would have the owner’s consent; or
  3. Owner could not be discovered taking reasonable steps
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13
Q

Is It possible to commit theft against your own property?

A

Yes - provided someone else also has a proprietary claim over the property

  • Garage’s lien over D’s car for unpaid invoice (R v Turner)
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14
Q

Distinction between robbery and regular theft

A

Theft offence forms part of AR for robbery - simply a form of ‘aggravated theft’ due to violent nature.

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15
Q

What are the three ways the element of force is satisfied for robbery?

A
  1. Inflict force
  2. Cause apprehension of force
  3. Intend to cause apprehension of force
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16
Q

Extent of ‘force’ necessary for robbery offence

A

Need not be substantial or require violence
- Can be applied indirectly (ie. through property), but must directed at a person.
AND
- intend for force to actually be felt force or apprehended by V.

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17
Q

Elements for robbery under s.8(1) TA

A

1) Theft (MR/AR)
2) Using force or apprehension of force against V or another person
AND
3) force occurred immediately before or at the time of theft

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18
Q

For robbery, will AR still be met if victim fears force will be inflicted unto another?

A

Yes

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19
Q

If someone who commits a theft and uses a fake gun in order to steal, are they guilty of robbery?

A

Yes - even if victim knew the gun was fake.

What is relevant is that D intended to cause apprehension of force

20
Q

Mens rea requirement for robbery

A

No additional requirement, other than full MR of theft.

Although key to not:
Intention to use force must be directly relevant to theft.
- must be the means to an end (enable theft itself)

21
Q

What are the two types of Burglary under section 9?

A
  • Section 9(1)(a): *trespass with intent** to commit ulterior offence(s)
  • Section 9(1)(b):
    trespass with actual commission of ulterior offences
22
Q

What is required for entry under both section 9(1)(a) and (b)?

A

Defendant must knowingly or recklessly enter a building or part of as a trespassor with any part of their body

23
Q

For burglary, if D is apprehended while stuck in fence to building, will this still amount to effective entry?

A

Yes - only part of D’s body needs to be trespassing
+
for s.9(1)(a) - not necessarily for D to be in position to commit ulterior offence

24
Q

What is the standard required of a building or part of a building for burglary?

A

Struture with some degree of permanence

25
Q

How can trespass arise from a visitor and the restrictions placed on them?

A

If a visitor exceeds the permission given to them, they become a trespasser and liable for burglary

26
Q

For burglary under s.9(1)(a), what are the ulterior offences D must intend to commit?

A
  1. Theft
  2. Inflict GBH on anyone in the building
  3. Cause criminal damage
27
Q

For burglary under s.9(1)(a), what are ulterior offences must D actually commit?

A
  1. Theft or attempted theft
  2. Inflict or attempt to inflict GBH on any person in the building
28
Q

What ulterior offence relevant to s.9(1)(a) does not apply to s.9(1)(b) burglary?

A

Criminal damage

29
Q

Does conditional intent suffice under s.9(1)(a)?

A

Yes - so long as intention was held by D at point of entry

30
Q

Key differences between s.9(1)(a) and s.9(1)(b)

A
  1. Intent vs. actual or attempt to commit
  2. Ulterior offences - criminal damage vs no crim damage
  3. Timing of MR - entry vs. point of committing ulterior offence
31
Q

What is the baseline mens rea for both types of burglary?

A

The defendant must know or be reckless as to the fact they are a trespasser

32
Q

What are the additional mens rea requirements for section 9(1)(a) and (b) respectively?

A
  • Section 9(1)(a): Intent to commit the underlying offence at time of entry
  • Section 9(1)(b): Mens rea for underlying offence required
33
Q

Additional requirement for burglary charge to turn into aggravated burglary

A

D is found with WIFE
- Weapon of offence
- Imitation gun
- Firearm
- Explosive

34
Q

Weapon of offence

A

Any item made or adapted to cause injury or intended by defendant to be used as such (ie. screwdriver, hammer)

35
Q

Explosive

A

Any item manufactured to create an explosion or intended by the defendant to explode

36
Q

Is land included in the definition of property under TA?

A

Only be appropriate in specific circumstances (ie. trustee or PR via misappropriation).

37
Q

If D knocks victim unconscious and then decided to stay V’s wallet, is D guilty of robbery?

A

No - theft as an afterthought to use of force does not amount to robbery.

38
Q

Under what circumstances will burglary become an indictable only offence?

A
  • Commission or an intention to commit an indictable-only offence.
  • Burglary of a dwelling if any person in the dwelling was subjected to violence or the threat of violence.
  • Three strikes rule = 2 previous conviction for burglary of a dwelling, and this is now D’s 3rd time.
39
Q

If a homeowner leaves trash at the front of his home, does it still belong to him?

A

Yes, up until the point council collected it.
- case law indicated that the court do not readily find property abandoned.

40
Q

For the purposes of theft, can property ‘belong’ to someone even if they were themselves unaware of it?

A

Yes -
- property found on owner’s land can belong to them, provided an intention to exercise control over items found is clearly displayed via notice or implied (Parker v British Airways)

41
Q

Is an intention to render property useless sufficient to establish an ‘intention to permanently deprive’?

A

Yes (DPP v J)

42
Q

Circumstances where an intention to permanently deprive’ will be made out

A
  • Intention to render property useless (DPP v J)
  • Intending to treat another‘s property in a manner which risks its loss (R v Fernandes)
  • Borrowing or lending where D intends to return it minus all its goodness, virtue and practical value (R v Lloyd)
  • Parting with property under a condition as to its return, which they may be unable to perform (s.6(2))
  • Using another’s property for bargaining (ransom cases) (R v Raphael)
  • Attempting to sell an owner their own property (R v Scott)
43
Q

If D steals money from the cash register, and then returns the equivalent sum the next day, is D still guilty of theft?

A

Yes - theft with an intention of returning notes and coins of equivalent value is insufficient to defeat an ‘intention to permanently deprive’ (R v Velumyl)
- still guilty!

44
Q

Can D still be guilty of theft for appropriating property with the owner’s consent?

A

Yes - appropriation is an objective description of the act done.

  • operates independently from its owner’s or D’s mental state (R v Hinks)
45
Q

For theft, where property is given to D by mistake, does legal title to the property remain with its original owner or pass to D?

A

Both D and original owner has legal title.
- reasoning = legal title still passes even where property is acquired by a mistake
BUT
- also seen as belonging to its OG owner since D is under legal duty to restore it once finds out mistake. (s.5(4) of TA)

46
Q

For robbery, does indirect contact with the victim suffice to satisfy the requirement of ‘force’?

A

No, will simply be guilty of theft.

  • require more than indirect/minimal contact with victim.
  • Note whether sufficient force is used is a jury question

ie. P v DPP - D was not guilty of robbery for merely snatching a cigarette from V’s hands.
- snatching was w/out direct physical contact does not constitute the use of “force” under s.8.
- simply guilty of theft.

47
Q

Does the victim actually need to fear force for a defendant to be guilty of robbery?

A

No - a mere intent to put the victim in fear that force would be used suffices.