A 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.
How they met
Tahereh Ghorbanlou, 34, blackmailed her victim after meeting him through an online dating app in March 2021, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
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.
Ghorbanlou, of Upper Lighthorne, Warwickshire, and the victim had a drink together before having consensual sex and afterwards Ghorbanlou made a remark he would have to pay for sex next time.
The blackmail
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.
Ghorbanlou claimed she was injured and in pain and he would be fined £30,000 if a sexual offence allegation was reported to police.
Ghorbanlou then sent him her bank details demanding he transferred £5,000 or she would go to police and accuse him of ‘sexual violence’.
The arrest
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.
No evidence
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.
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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, September 6.
