A woman who made a
£1,000 blackmail demand against her boyfriend – threatening to
continue a bogus assault claim to police – received a suspended
prison sentence yesterday.
Joanne Singh, 33, of
Southfield Road, Enfield claims there was no financial motive behind
her actions, insisting she was trying to protect her own safety.
She pleaded guilty to
blackmailing the man between March 1 and May 29, last year and was
sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Singh must also
complete a probation-ordered rehabilitation activity requirement of
up to forty-five days.
Southwark Crown Court
Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith told the first-time offender, who has
been diagnosed as bipolar: “You are a vulnerable who needs to take
care of herself.”
The court heard she has
a background of psychotic episodes and was diagnosed with depression
in 2014.
“Throughout your
relationship you were not taking your medication,” the judge told
Singh. “Your relationship was obviously pretty volatile and both of
you say the other was at times controlling and he had autism.
“Blackmail is always
treated seriously. When you demanded the money you said it was for a
security and insurance against physical harm.
“This is a very odd
offence of blackmail, not motivated by the usual financial motive,”
the judge added. “It was a horrible, terrible ordeal that you
subjected him to.
“You pleaded guilty
at the first opportunity and expressed remorse to me in a letter and
to the psychiatrist.”
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