A sex offender blackmailed a teacher with threats to "ruin" him with false rape claims from former students.
Brandon Foskett got to know details of the victim, including the educational established he worked at, while employed as removals man at his home. The victim got a text message out of the blue referencing his place of work and threatening to report him to his employer and police, claiming two females were writing statements about him attacking them.
Foskett wrote: "Think you should get out of this one by sending £600 to my details below, don't ask questions, do it or I will ruin you. Don't test me lad, I know who you are and have a lot to take you down." He then gave account details for where the money was to be sent.
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Barry Robson, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "The complainant tried to laugh it off but he became concerned this unknown person knew personal details about him and mentioned the educational establishment where he used to work. The victim contacted police and the mobile phone number was examined.
"It was recorded on the police system and was associated with the defendant, who is a registered sex offender and had provided the police with the same number when registering as a sex offender." The victim also Googled the mobile phone number and found it was linked to a business Foskett was involved with. Police found the phone at his home, along with a bank card containing the account details he texted the victim.
Foskett, of Park Road, Cruddas Park, Newcastle, who has 19 previous convictions, including for disclosing private sexual pictures with intent to cause distress, pleaded guilty to blackmail and was jailed for two years and given a five year restraining order banning him from contacting the victim or referring to him online.
Judge Penny Moreland told him: "Blackmail is a particularly nasty offence. During the course of your work as a removals man you learned something of the person who became your victim. You learned he taught at a particular educational establishment.
"When you needed money for drugs and alcohol you texted him and threatened two false allegations of rape would be made against him by people who he had taught at that educational establishment.
"I accept the blackmail was short-lived and unsophisticated and your identity was easily found but I regard the nature of the menaces, to make false allegations of rape against someone who worked in an educational establishment, as particularly serious given the potential damage to that person's character, reputation, professional and family life."
Jamie Adams, defending, said it was obvious Foskett was the culprit and that he was easily traced. He added: "Thankfully, because the complainant was proactive and acted pretty quickly, the matter got sorted and he was arrested.
"We all know how sinister the offence of blackmail can be. He is immature and is burdened with a mass of conditions which affect his mental running. He has a borderline personality disorder, ADHD, Aspergers and dyslexia."
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