BLACKMAILER WHO FORCED LANARKSHIRE SEXTORTION VICTIM TO PAY THOUSANDS OF POUNDS AVOIDS JAIL
A blackmailer has avoided jail after forcing a North Lanarkshire man to pay thousands of pounds to stop an explicit photo of himself being posted publicly.The victim received 14 handwritten notes demanding cash over a three-week period.
Athen Davis, 23, of Fauldhouse, was placed under supervision for 30 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
He was ordered to do 180 hours of unpaid community work and repay the victim the £4,500 he received.
Davis admitted that, while acting with an accomplice, he extorted the cash after repeated visits to the victim's home in Harthill in July and August 2023.
The prosecution said the victim sent an intimate photo of himself to Davis's partner, which led to Davis turning up at the man's door on July 27, 2023, with a letter demanding £1,000 by 6 pm that day.
Davis showed the explicit photo on his phone and warned it would be disclosed publicly if he did not cooperate.
Over the following three weeks, 14 handwritten notes demanding cash were delivered.
The victim later informed family members and reported the matter to police after telling Davis he could no longer pay.
Fingerprint evidence linked Davis to 13 of the 14 handwritten notes.
The defence lawyer described Davis's actions as rash and stupid, stemming from anger about the photo and correspondence he found while going through his partner's phone, and expressed remorse.
The sheriff acknowledged the seriousness but considered Davis's age and lack of previous convictions in his sentencing.
