alt.uk.law

"steve robinson" wrote in message
news:xn0fb1nouuo24m00g@news-text.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Matt wrote:
>
>> Hi I'm not personally in this situation but someone close to me is.
>>
>> I'm desperately seeking an answer to this, but essentially an old
>> employer is Blackmailing someone I know by saying that 'she' has
>> restored and read all deleted emails, skype messages and Is
>> threatening to send these to the MD of the person I know new company
>> to try and get them sacked.
>>
>> I don't think the messages contain anything illegal, maybe some 'bad
>> mouthing' about the old boss but nothing sinister.
>>
>> What i'd like to know is in UK law is it legal to restore and read
>> deleted emails and/or skype messages and then use these for the
>> purpose of getting someone sacked from a new job?
>>
>> Is there anything that can be done i.e any type of legal action to
>> stop her from doing that.
>>
>> Thanks
>
>
> if the mails were on company machines then the company can restore them
> if anything is illegal within the content of the e mails then they
> could take further action
>
> They could reveal this to a future employers if a reference was
> requested from them
>
> If they threaten to reveal the content to future employers in a manner
> that is threatening and for the purposes of coercing you then report i
> to the police , blackmail is a serious offence
>
> --
It's not a question of the actions being threatening or coercing, it's a
question of whether the former employer is making an unwarranted demand with
menaces.
As the original poster described, the employer did not make any demands, the
"threat" was only that they were considering warning her current employer
about her past behaviour while in their employment.
Unless they have made an unwarranted demand, there is no blackmail.