- Guy A was involved in a police investigation and was given a police caution. Guy B found out and decided to spread this information around town and amongst Guy A's friends thus damaging Guy A's reputation and potentially lowering his job prospects, as nobody wants to hire him. Could Guy A sue Guy B for Slander?
- Guy A was involved in a police investigation and was given a police caution. Guy B found out and decided to spread this information around town and amongst Guy A's friends thus damaging Guy A's reputation and potentially lowering his job prospects, as nobody wants to hire him. Could Guy A sue Guy B for Slander?
Even if A wanted to keep the whole thing a secrete? Surely it's not B's place to spread this around, especially as it's defaming A and potentially losing him money as he can't get a job locally?
Even if A wanted to keep the whole thing a secrete? Surely it's not B's place to spread this around, especially as it's defaming A and potentially losing him money as he can't get a job locally?
Even if A wanted to keep the whole thing a secrete? Surely it's not B's place to spread this around, especially as it's defaming A and potentially losing him money as he can't get a job locally?
Something is only defamatory if it is untrue.S2(1) of the Defamation Act 2013 is very clear on this point.
"It is a defence to an action for defamation for the defendant to show that the imputation conveyed by the statement complained of is substantially true."
C's wanting to keep it a secret is not relevant to defamation or indeed slander. And it doesn't come under privacy or confidence, either, because C acted without moral scruple.
Even if A wanted to keep the whole thing a secrete? Surely it's not B's place to spread this around, especially as it's defaming A and potentially losing him money as he can't get a job locally?
He can learn a few lessons: (a) be careful who you treat as a friend, (b) be even more careful which friends you trust with confidences, (c) discriminate which facts about yourself can lead to harm if well known, (d) don't get involved in criminality as it can have unfortunate consequences for the criminal, even if no real punishment is inflicted by the justice system.