Couple sentenced for blackmail

 

A couple who blackmailed a Cheshire man over sex tapes and photographs have been jailed.
Suzanne Norbury, 11/06/1985 of Holmeswood Road, Rufford, Ormskirk, and her partner Shaun Dykes, 12/07/1962, of Holmeswood Road, Rufford, Ormskirk pleaded guilty to blackmail at an earlier hearing.
They were both sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Chester Crown Court on Monday 12 March 2012.
The victim, a 37-year-old man, 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 told the victim she had been burgled and that her phone, laptop and camera had been stolen.
A couple of 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 that the man knew his name and where he worked.
Just over a week later the victim was contacted on his private 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.
On 24 May 2011, the victim met Norbury and Dykes in Ormskirk where they attempted to persuade him to hand over cash to them and in return they would hire someone to get his property back. This meeting took place under police surveillance unbeknown to the offenders, with specialist officers supporting the victim.
Dykes and Norbury were arrested following this meeting and later charged with blackmail.
Detective Superintendent Geraint Jones said: "Despite being threatened and warned not to go to the police, the victim in this case did the right thing in reporting this crime to us and we immediately launched an operation aimed at catching the people responsible.
"Blackmail often centres on an area of sensitivity or embarrassment to the victim which can inhibit them in contacting the police, but I would like to take this opportunity to stress that Cheshire Police is experienced at dealing with cases such as this and the safety and protection of the victim is our key priority. This case highlights how our expertise and sensitivity leads to positive results. I am pleased that 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 today."