A greedy ticket inspector who tried to blackmail the Financial Services Authority after finding their paperwork on a Stanstead express train dodged prison with a suspended sentence today for the "nasty" crime.
Heavily-built Ian Aitken, 50, of Pearson Avenue, Hertford pleaded guilty that between June 2 and 6, within the jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court, he made an unwarranted demand of monies from the Financial Services Authority, with menaces.
The revenue protection officer stumbled upon the documents on June 1, last year after they were left behind by a female employee of the SFA on the Liverpool Street to Stanstead express.
"What you did was serious and nasty," Judge James Wadsworth QC told Aitken at Southwark Crown Court. "There is something particularly unpleasant about blackmail and it passes the custody threshold."
First-time-offender Aitken was sentenced to twenty weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to perform 100 hours unpaid community service, attend a 25 day educational requirement and obey a nightime curfew with tagging for six months.
Prosecutor Mr. Nick Rimmer told the court the documents gave details of test purchases made by a 'phantom' shopper employed by the FSA to investigate financial products sold by LloydsTSB.
"The defendant went to LloydsTSB in Hertford and said he was thinking of taking the documents to the press."
The bank photocopied the documents and forwarded them to the FSA, who phoned Aitken on June 3, asking for the originals to be returned.
"He refused and said they would be worth a lot of money to the press," added Mr. Rimmer.
The FSA tipped-off City of London Police and a detective posing as an employee contacted Aitken two days later, offering £50, but it was refused.
The officer called back and agreed a sum of £500 with Aitken, who was then arrested at his house on June 5, with the documents lying on his sofa.
When quizzed Aitken claimed he intended to give the money to charity and was only trying to teach banks a lesson for leaving confidential documents lying around.
"They were taken on the spur of the moment and he did intend to hand them in," said Miss Rebecca Randall, defending. "He admits it was extremely stupid of him.
"He has genuine remourse and is deeply sorry," added the lawyer. "It's his own admission that he's not the brightest spark in the box."
Aitken's daughter and wife of twenty-three years were in court. "They are absolutely terrified about the outcome today."
Judge Wadsworth added: "This was a stupid attempt to benefit from something that happened by chance."
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