A couple who blackmailed a Cheshire man over sex tapes and photographs have been jailed.
Suzanne Norbury, 26, and her partner Shaun Dykes, 49, (pictured) pleaded guilty to blackmail at an earlier hearing.
They were both sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Chester Crown Court yesterday (March 12).
The 37-year-old victim, who cannnot be identified for legal reasons, had been visiting Norbury for around 18 months from 2009.
During the visits she used her phone and a camera to take pictures and video them engaging in sexual activity.
In April 2011, Norbury him she had been burgled and that her phone, laptop and camera had been stolen.
Two weeks later Norbury contacted the victim and told him she had been contacted by a man who told her he had the images and videos of her and the victim.
He told her he would show them to their families if they didn′t pay him £20,000. She told the victim the man knew his name and where he worked.
A week later the victim was contacted on his phone by the man who made threats to release the pictures to everyone at his work if he didn′t pay the money, and he would hurt him if he contacted the police.
The victim contacted police the following day and a covert operation was launched to identify the offenders.
Over the next five days the victim had numerous phone calls making demands and threats.
In May last year, the victim met Norbury and Dykes in Ormskirk where they tried to persuade him to hand over cash and in return they would hire someone to get his property back.
The offenders did not know this meeting took place under police surveillance, and the couple, of Holmeswood Road, Rufford, Ormskirk, were arrested and later charged with blackmail.
Cheshire Police’s Det Supt Geraint Jones said: “Despite being threatened and warned, the victim did the right thing in reporting this crime.
“Blackmail often centres on an area of sensitivity or embarrassment to the victim which can inhibit them in contacting the police, but Cheshire Police is experienced at dealing with such cases and the safety and protection of the victim is our key priority.
“I am pleased these two have been exposed and punished for their deceitful plan as it is a serious crime which is reflected in the sentences handed down.”
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