A blackmailer was told to repay more than £2,500 in compensation after threatening a man into buying a Sky box and handing over thousands of pounds.
Mark Bennett 27, of Walton Park, Liverpool, was jailed for three years in April after being found guilty of blackmailing the man. Victim Corey Cunliffe, a depot manager, was "financially crippled" after Bennett forced him to hand over large amounts of cash.
At a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing held at Caernarfon Crown Court this morning, judge His Honour Timothy Petts ordered Bennett to pay £2,530. The judge said the money was to be paid from an account already confiscated by North Wales Police, within 28 days, NorthWalesLive reports.
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Bennett appeared via video link from HMP Berwyn. A sentencing hearing held in Caernarfon on April 4 heard that Bennett had initially blackmailed Mr Cunliffe into buying a Sky TV box for £150. However, he later increased his demands, warning Mr Cunliffe that he knew people who could "hurt or kill" him.
Feeling "under pressure," the victim transferred a total of £2,650 into the defendant's account. Prosecutor Brian Treadwell said Mr Cunliffe had to take out a bank loan for £3,000 and had been left "financially crippled" by the crime.
Mr Treadwell said the victim couldn't pay his rent so had to move back to live with his mum and has suffered stress and anxiety. He said every time the victim picks up the phone or a car pulls up at work he worries that it is the defendant who will make more threats.
Sentencing Bennett in April, judge Her Honour Nicola Saffman said the defendant had "pestered, threatened and bullied" his victim to make payments of more than £5,000 to him otherwise "other people - gangsters - would be sent to kill him". One internet Payday loan had enormous interest rates, she added.
Clare Jones, defending, previously said her client had suffered "unfortunate and numerous bereavements", and resorted to alcohol and drug misuse. She said he also had mental health issues.
Jailing Bennett, the judge said: "There must be an element of deterrent such is the terror brought to victims in these cases." She also imposed an indefinite restraining order prohibiting the defendant from contacting the man directly or indirectly or from referring to him on social media.
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