Police told of blackmail messages

The victim, Mr X, who cannot be identified, had spent a night with Nicholas Sheffield and the following day began receiving text messages from him asking for £250, one mentioned a tape of what had taken place during their night together, Ewan McLaughlin prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

Richard Reed, representing Sheffield, said he acted out of stupidity when heavily intoxicated. “There is no suggestion he has ever behaved in this manner to anyone else he has met through this social network.”

Sheffield, 38 of Estcourt Terrace, Headingley, Leeds was given a nine months jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 200 hours of unpaid work and £250 costs after admitting blackmail.

Judge Christopher Batty told him: “This was mean and unpleasant and caused the complainant a lot of worry.”