privately prosecuting a troll

[spursfan85]

What is laying an information at the magistrates court. Is it just a glorified witness statement? what needs to be done in order to privately prosecute someone for say the offence cyberstalking? and who is this information given to at the magistrate?

[nemesis45]

Re: privately prosecuting a troll

What is laying an information at the magistrates court. Is it just a glorified witness statement? what needs to be done in order to privately prosecute someone for say the offence cyberstalking? and who is this information given to at the magistrate?

Hi welcome to LB,

A word of caution a private prosecution can be extremely costly!
Are action of the alleged " troll" illegal or unlawful i.e. do their a
actions breach statute law ( illegal) or are they offensive, abusive,
derogatory, a nuisance? ( possibly unlawful).

First approach would be to the police to file a complaint against
the person if the police do no believe there is anything to investigate
and/or pursue, then you might consider a PP.
A big responsibility.

nem

[Amethyst]

Re: privately prosecuting a troll

Have you been through other channels to attempt to sort this out first ?

On what grounds are you wanting to bring the private prosecution ? What are the charges ?

Have the police refused to prosecute ?

Would an injunction not be a better route ?

[spursfan85]

Re: privately prosecuting a troll

thanks for replying. the troll has gone beyond harrassment. he has a profile with my picture on fb making claims that are false. i used him as a mackenzie friend at trial and afterwards he went onto cyberstalk me. posting my address and criminal record. making threats about family members etc. i reported him to police for his behaviour and they have said there are going to arrest him as i have his numberplate for his car. when i was with him we got pulled over by the police and i kept the ticket. i met him from online and used him as mackenzie friend for a trial. he was relying on the anonymity the internet offers to get awaying with making up malicious rumours about me and contacting friends on my friends list.

its been three months since i reported him and he is still carrying on.

[stevemLS]

Re: privately prosecuting a troll

This may, or may not, be an offence.

Whilst endorsing the previously offered cautions, to answer your question no it is not a witness statement, it is a bare allegation of the criminal wrong that is said to have been done.

That you ;name] on [date] did [whatever] contrary to [the statute alleged to have been broken]

That is the "information"

[spursfan85]

Re: privately prosecuting a troll

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/127