Blackmailer jailed after false rape allegation

A blackmailer who threatened to report a man for rape unless he paid her £5,000 has been jailed.

Tahereh Ghorbanlou met her victim through an online dating app and they began chatting with each other in March 2021.

They arranged to meet on 12 March at the victim’s home address in Nottingham where they had a drink together before having consensual sex.

Ghorbanlou made a casual remark he would have to pay for sex next time, but the victim dismissed this as a joke and they parted on good terms.

However, over the following days she sent him a number of messages saying she was injured and in pain and he would be fined £30,000 if a sexual offence allegation was reported to police.

She 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 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 20 March 2021 to make a counter-allegation of rape against the man.

Detectives carried out detailed investigations into both allegations and found no evidence Ghorbanlou was the victim of any sexual offence.

Mobile phone records revealed the attempts Ghorbanlou had made to blackmail the man and showed she had searched the internet for ‘sexual violence price’ and ‘sexual violence definition’ the day after the alleged rape.

The 34-year-old, of Horton Drive, Upper Lighthorne, Warwickshire, made no comment in police interviews but eventually pleaded guilty to one count of blackmail more than two years later in May 2023.

She was jailed for two years and three months when she appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday (6 September).

Detective Inspector Chris Berryman, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “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.”