Blackmailer Demanded £1,000 From Boyfriend

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.”