A blackmail plotter tried to force a married grandmother to hand over £1,000 after discovering she was selling sex through online escort agencies.
William Murray hatched the plot after working out from information on her various web profiles she was the mother of someone he knew.
The woman – called Ms A in court to protect her identity – had turned to prostitution after she and her husband ran up considerable debts.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told she was forced to confess what she was doing to her husband and children after being “terrified” by Murray’s threat to expose her.
Her daughter realised she knew who Murray was and had the phone number he had been using stored in her own phone’s memory.
Desperate debt decision
Fiscal depute Gavin Burton told the court: “Ms A and her husband had large amounts of debt and in November 2019 she decided to offer sexual services through profiles on specific websites with the intention of using the money to reduce their debts.
“Her family and friends were completely unaware of her decision to do this.
“She had two profiles on different websites.
“One contained five photographs of her, though none showed her face.
“There was no personal information contained on the profile other than her mobile number.
“She had a further profile on the same website which contained an image of her face.
“There was a second website used by Ms A, which had her biography on it.
“There were a number of photographs of her on this profile, all with her face visible.
“This profile has been viewed at least 1,000 times.”
Contact made with victim
Mr Burton said Ms A would have phone conversations with potential clients, before turning up in her own car to provide sexual services.
“On 26 January 2020 she received a WhatsApp message.
“She did not recognise the number.
“She and the accused exchanged a significant number of messages.
“She explained the services she offered and the price of those services.
“The accused continued by asking her a series of questions about her services.
“The accused finally asked her if she was married and she replied ‘no’.”
Blackmail plot
Minutes later, Murray sent his first message threatening to expose Ms A.
Murray said: “Right, let’s get down to business. Keep this between us and £1,000 will buy my silence.”
He said he had screenshotted their conversations.
He added: “I know you have a partner and know him personally, where he works etc.
“Wouldn’t be good for it to go public and wouldn’t be best for your family, knowing that.”
Ms A tried to deny who she was but Murray was able to give accurate details about her car, her full name and some family details.
Right, let’s get down to business. Keep this between us and £1,000 will buy my silence.”
— Blackmailer William Murray.
A short time later, he messaged: “I will give you one hour to reconsider your choice, and to stop doing it, when I have everything I need that proves it is you.
“Pay it and stop what you are doing and get on with your life or potentially lose everything.
“Am sure he knows what his partner looks like.”
Mr Burton told the court: “The complainer felt exposed, vulnerable, extremely anxious and terrified.
“She decided to inform her partner of the services she had been offering.
“They thereafter informed their children.”
During the discussion her daughter realised she knew who the blackmailer was and had his number on her phone.
Accused claimed threat was ‘a joke’
Murray, 35, of St Fillans Road, Dundee, admitted trying to extort £1,000 from Ms A on January 26 2020.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown said: “This is a serious offence.
“This involves an abuse of power and control over a woman and her family.
“The social work report indicates that you minimised the harm, insisting it was done as a joke.
“There was no possibility it could be interpreted as a joke.”
She placed him on a community payback order for 12 months and under a restriction of liberty order for a period of nine months.
