Kaz, undoubtedly your legal advice to instruct a solicitor privately is the safest way to proceed in law.
But if our penniless student were to follow Mr Flappy's advice and merely rock up with a couple of heavies and demand the logbook, provided said heavies did not actually belt anyone or trash the place, would this not be cheaper and more effective?
It is wrong that he has to pay a lawyer, probably with little hope of being awarded costs. No doubt the flying school is counting on that. Or could he get substantial costs, in which case, way to go?
Yes, intimidation may be illegal, but it doesn't seem as if this low life operation would want to bring any more adverse publicity on themselves by doing anything other than hand over the goods.