Blackmailer threatened to send woman’s intimate photos ‘worldwide’

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Aaron Quinn wanted £80 in ransom for the photos to spend on cannabis.

The 31-year-old appeared to be sentenced on charges of blackmail, threatening to disclose private sexual photos and harassment without violence.

He sobbed throughout the hearing and pleaded with the judge to spare him a stretch in prison, but his appeal fell on deaf ears.

Prosecutor Michael Scholes informed the court how the defendant and victim began chatting online through Facebook messenger from April last year and spoke daily thereafter.

Their relationship was purely digital communication, the court heard, although they did meet up once in person.

They began to exchange ‘naked pictures of their lower halves’, with Mr Scholes stating: “I have no further information than that, but clearly they were intimate photos.”

Following this, Quinn began to send ‘nasty’ text messages between August 8 and 12 and left abusive voicemail messages.

In these, on more than one occasion, he threatened to send the victim’s intimate photos ‘worldwide’ unless she paid him £80.

The matter was reported to the police on April 12 and the defendant was arrested that same day.

He was interviewed under caution and admitted sending the messages with the ‘intention of getting a reaction by making her angry’.

Quinn also admitted threatening to distribute the images if she did not pay him, but said that he never really intended to do so.

Mr Scholes revealed that Quinn has 29 previous convictions for 42 offences, mainly for crimes of dishonesty such as theft and travelling without paying for a rail fare.

He described the offences as ‘unpleasant and serious’, adding that offences of blackmail ‘ordinarily require the imposition of an immediate custodial sentence’.

Aaron Quinn was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court

Representing her client, Sarah Griffin offered mitigation in the form of Quinn’s guilty pleas and the fact that no images were distributed.

“He does have a terrible record, however many of the offences are of a relatively low level,” she said.

“He has not been in prison since 2013 and has only served two relatively short of imprisonment, and this would be his first of significant length.”

It was said that Quinn has ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder and learning difficulties, while he was homeless at the time of the offence and solicited money for cannabis.

“He has his own demons,” Ms Griffin said and ‘matters that continue to haunt him’, with the defendant abusing alcohol and substances.

“He does not hold the court to ransom, but he does not think he will survive custody. He is worried about the harmful impact it will have on him.

“He wants to address his problems and is already trying to do so. He has stayed out of trouble since this offence.”

Ms Griffin – and Quinn himself by repeatedly saying that he ‘cannot do prison again’ – asked the court to consider suspending the inevitable jail term.

However, this was rejected by judge Anil Murray who said: “Offences of this type are always serious, and almost always carry a sentence of immediate imprisonment.

“You have a high risk of reoffending and a medium risk of harm to the public.

“Clearly the custody sentence has been passed. I have to decide if I can suspend the sentence.

“In my judgement, this is a case where appropriate punishment can only be achieved by way of immediate custody. This was a nasty offence.”

Quinn, of Watkin Street in Orford, was sentenced to 10 months immediate imprisonment.