Scenario question:

Bill is a student who suffers from depression, and decides to go shopping to take his

mind off things. In the shop, he decides to swap the price-tags on some shirts to get

an expensive one for a discount price, but having swapped the price-tags, he changes

his mind about the expensive shirt and puts it back on the rack. He then notices a

handbag lying on an unattended counter; he picks it up and walks off. The bag

belonged to Bella, who works in the shop. She was very sad to find her bag had gone

missing. On her lunch break, she notices a man with her bag in a cafe. She shoves

the man and grabs the bag, and walks out. When she gets back to the shop she looks

inside the bag and finds it is not hers after all. She decides to hand the bag in at the

police station.

Discuss Bill and Bella's liability according to UK Laws.

You need to approach a problem question chronologically. Start by identifying potential

offences, one by one.

Then define the potential offence in relation to the wording of the relevant legislation

and identify the elements of actus reus and mens rea of that offence.

In applying the law to what has happened you should state what significant case law

principles need to be applied (using correct OSCOLA referencing).

Briefly state whether you think the offence could be proved.

Do this for each offence.