A FORMER Stratton resident, who previously pleaded guilty to blackmail, will learn his sentence next month after doing six weeks of what his counsel Barrie van den Berg described at Truro Crown Court on Wednesday, March 4 as "cold turkey" detoxification in the Broadreach drugs and alcohol establishment in Plymouth.
Alleged to have been the 'frightener' in the blackmailing of a Bude scrap metal dealer, Paul Seymour now showed genuine regret and, for the first time, was accepting responsibility for his actions, said Mr van den Berg. He stressed that no actual violence had been used.
Judge Christopher Elwen made it a condition that 37-year-old Seymour, formerly of New Road, Stratton, resides at Broadreach until April 24. Seymour had previously admitted two charges alleging the blackmail of Mr James Wooldridge during the autumn of 2007.
Two others involved in the blackmail were sentenced last month. John Harris, a 49-year-old ice cream salesman, and Helen Haskell, aged 33, were each ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work for the community.
Harris admitted two charges of having twice acquired £500 knowing or suspecting it to be the proceeds of criminal activity, and Haskell pleaded guilty to one charge of blackmail.
Prosecutor Llewellyn Sellick said that Mr Wooldridge had been assaulted by two men in August, 2007 and his son, Anthony, wanted revenge.
Harris told him he knew of men who could assist but when Mr Wooldridge decided not to go ahead Harris claimed the men were angry and wanted payment. He was given two sums of £500 but the blackmail continued with a further demand for £2,000 and Seymour making threats.
The police were informed and they provided £2,000 marked with dye which Mr Wooldridge handed over to Haskell while Seymour watched from a supermarket cafe.
Judge Elwen said it was clear that Haskell was the collector of the money, Harris the introducer and Seymour the frightener.
Seymour, the court heard, had previous
convictions which included a 12-year jail sentence in Australia for drugs offences.