JUNAID SHAFIQ FROM BIRMINGHAM SENTENCED FOR BLACKMAIL INVOLVING SEXUAL MATERIAL

Junaid Shafiq, a 26-year-old man residing on Warren Road in the Washwood Heath area of Birmingham, has been convicted and sentenced to a prison term of two years and three months for the crime of blackmail. The case revealed a disturbing sequence of events in which Shafiq recorded a brief six-second video and captured a photograph of a woman engaged in a sexual act with him. Using this material as leverage, he threatened to publicly release the footage unless he received money from the victim.

Despite his assurances to the victim that he had deleted the compromising footage, Shafiq later sent the video to her sister, causing her immense distress and emotional turmoil. The victim, who comes from a deeply religious family, was overwhelmed by the humiliation and shame inflicted by Shafiq’s actions, to the point that she contemplated taking her own life. The severity of her distress ultimately led her to report the incident to the police.

During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that Shafiq initially coerced the victim into giving him £900. He started with an initial demand of £100, then increased it to £800 after promising to delete all the footage and images he had of her. Subsequently, he demanded an additional £1,000, claiming it was to settle a drugs debt. When the victim refused to comply with these demands, Shafiq threatened to send the explicit video and images to her family and friends, further escalating her fear and anxiety.

It was also revealed that Shafiq had previously admitted to a charge of blackmail, underscoring his pattern of coercive behavior. The presiding judge, Melbourne Inman QC, emphasized the profound emotional damage caused to the victim, highlighting how the unauthorized disclosure of personal material can have devastating effects on individuals. The court’s decision reflects the serious nature of such offenses and the importance of protecting victims from exploitation and humiliation.