R v Cole [1994] Crim LR 582     Court of Appeal

The appellant borrowed some money from a loan shark. The loan shark threatened him and his girlfriend with serious violence unless he repaid the money. He robbed several building societies in order to repay the money. He raised the defence of duress.

Held:

The defence was unsuccessful and his conviction was upheld. There was not a sufficient nexus between the threat and the crime. The loan shark did not tell him to commit a crime to repay the money.

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