TEEN BLACKMAILED FACEBOOK CONTACT OVER INTIMATE PHOTOS AND WAS ORDERED TO PAY £180
A teenage individual involved in sextortion has been instructed to reimburse the funds she extorted from a Facebook contact.Charlesworth, 20 years old and residing on Fore Street in Torrington, pleaded guilty to blackmail.
She was ordered by Judge David Evans to complete 15 hours of rehabilitation activities within an 18-month community order and to pay £180 in compensation.
Judge Evans stated, ”You were 19 at the time and may not have fully appreciated the severity with which the courts treat this behavior.
If you had any doubts then, they are certainly clear now.
“You intentionally acted in a manner that was clearly likely to induce fear, concern, and anxiety in the victim, and that is exactly what occurred.
“I also have to consider the rather troubling background of how the contact originally began.” Prosecutor Mr.
Gareth Evans explained that a friend of Charlesworth’s connected with the victim online, exchanging pictures for money.
Charlesworth participated in one of these exchanges in June of the previous year and later demanded £40 via message, warning that she would reveal his activities to his sister unless he paid.
She made another demand for an additional £40, threatening to “ruin his life” if he refused to comply.
The next day, she extorted an extra £80 through Facebook messages and resumed her blackmail three weeks later, asking for another £30 and later demanding £80.
Unable to pay the full amount, he sent her £50 before reporting her to the police when she returned for more money.
Mr.
Evans added, “There are numerous Facebook messages containing repeated threats to expose him and ruin his reputation.
He stated in a victim impact statement that he lost sleep due to worry, and the anxiety affected his work.” Defense lawyer Miss Hollie Gilbery argued that Charlesworth did not realize her actions constituted blackmail and was in urgent need of money at the time.
She is very young, under social care support, and has mental health challenges.
She has been fully honest with law enforcement and has demonstrated genuine remorse.