A Rickmansworth man blackmailed a young woman into sending him topless photos of herself.
Harry Lines, 20, used social media to pose as a girl called Amy to trick the vulnerable victim into sending him a picture of herself, exposing part of her chest, St Albans Crown Court heard on May 10.
Prosecutor Peter Shaw said: “She implored her to send her an image of herself. She did and it showed part of her chest area. A second request was made for a topless picture. If it was not sent, the first picture would be put on social media.”
Mr Shaw said the demands from Lines increased and she sent him a further 10 images and two taken below the waist.
Lines then went on social media as a second person called Tom. He threatened to load the images onto the Internet and persuaded her to send him three videos and six topless images.
On September 20 last year she went to the police when he posed as another person and demanded more images and videos of her touching her breasts.
After that, Lines sent a message saying he knew where she lived and would kill her.
Mr Shaw said the victim had become extremely stressed, ill and had said she wanted to kill herself after what happened. She was very anxious about using social media and talking to new people, he said.
Lines, of Harefield Road, Rickmansworth, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to blackmail and disclosing private sexual photographs. He was of previous good character.
Defending, Jonathan Woodcock said: “He has said to me how sorry he is. It was the biggest mistake he has made and he has learnt his lesson.
“He is sorry he has put her through this. She does not have to accept his apology and he will take his punishment.”
He said Lines has a very low IQ and suffers significant learning difficulties.
Judge Stephen Warner said the victim was “young and vulnerable”.
He told him: “You inflicted pain, fear distress and humiliation on her. It caused her depression and anxiety.”
The judge made a two-and-a-half-year community order, which included a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was banned from ever contacting the victim.
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