Blackmailer demanded £7,000 from victim over benefits claim 'leak'
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A woman who demanded £7,000 from her victim has walked free from court after being told by a judge she did a "stupid thing". Jenna Speight demanded thousands of pounds from a man
who had distributed information about Speight's benefits claim from Middlesbrough Council, Teesside Crown Court heard at a previous hearing. She blackmailed her victim between August 26
and 30, last year. Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said Speight initially messaged the victim asking for "compensation for her information being leaked". The court heard on Wednesday
how Speight originally demanded £6,000 before upping it by an additional thousand pounds. The 35-year-old threatened to report her victim to the authorities as she demanded the cash, the
court heard in April. Speight, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to one count of blackmail. Recorder Bryan Cox KC said: "This was a stupid thing to do and if you do
anything like this in future you will end up being locked up. I am quite satisfied that this was a relatively short-lived incident and you regret it. "I am quite satisfied that
it's not necessary to impose a suspended sentence." Speight, of Netherby Green, Ormesby in Middlesbrough, was handed a community order and told she must complete 60 hours of unpaid
work. Recorder Cox added: "If you get the work done and get this behind you, you can get on with your life." FOR BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR AREA DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX EVERY DAY, GO HERE
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