By JO STEELE
A gay civil servant was blackmailed by two thugs after sending a series of suggestive text messages by mistake during a drinking session.
He was subjected to a campaign of intimidation, during which he was forced to hand over £5,300, a court was told.
The victim had sent innuendo-laden messages to a number of his friends – but one was sent in error to joiner David McAthey, who had previously given the victim a quote for repairs to a fence.
McAthey initially played along with the sexy suggestions, believing the messages to be from a woman.
But when he realised he had been communicating with a man, McAthey, 27, and his friend John Mercer, 29, threatened to beat up the public servant and expose his behaviour in a Tyne and Wear newspaper – if he didn’t pay up £500 to keep quiet.
When the pair turned up at the man’s home in May this year, Mercer punched and slapped him and his partner, took £300 and demanded a further £5,000 – which was later handed over in a pub car park.
The government worker turned to police after the blackmailers demanded another £5,000 hush money.
‘Blackmail is a serious, mean and dishonest offence,’ said Recorder William Lodge at Newcastle Crown Court.
McAthey and Mercer, both of South Shields, admitted blackmail and were jailed for six months and 18 months, respectively.
Source: www.metro.co.uk
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