A catfishing sextortionist who exploited men who contacted her for sex has avoided a jail sentence.
Lauren Hunt, 24, threatened to “expose” the men who had messaged her online to their family and friends unless they handed over cash.
After reading background reports, Sheriff Paul Brown told Hunt he took the matter “extremely seriously”, ordering her to pay back the money she took from her victims and warning her she could go to prison if she breaches her community-based sentence.
He said: “I understand from the reports, you have had a difficult background.
“You have no previous conviction, the report is positive.
“I have been told this was out of character. You have expressed remorse.
“Nonetheless, I take a very serious view on this matter.
“I will impose the maximum period, including a community payback order, of unpaid work and three years supervision.
“If you breach this order, you know what you can expect.”
Victim reeled in
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie previously told Dundee Sheriff Court one victim, referred to as MM, was “feeling low” on September 9 and “decided to look for the services of a prostitute”.
“He accessed Dundee Craigslist (a site offering local services) and found an advert for a 15-minute appointment for sexual services.
“He emailed and asked how to arrange an appointment.
“Arrangements were made for him to meet a female.”
She said he changed his mind and messaged again.
“He instantly received a reply which he perceived as quite hostile.
“The female stated he had wasted her time and she needed to be reimbursed.
“He was provided with the name Lauren Hunt and her bank details.
“He was instructed to send £20.
“He was then informed he would need to pay a further £20.
“He complied and got a demand for a further £20.
“He sent a total of £60 and the following day, blocked the number and deleted the emails.”
Continued pressure
On September 12 the man was catfished by further Facebook accounts – ‘Sam Thomson’ and ‘Danni Thomson’ – set up by Hunt to threaten him.
Ms Ritchie said: “Messages stated he needed to learn a lesson and demands for money were made.
“He was sent screenshots of his family Facebook accounts and the user began liking old posts on his timeline.
“She asked for more money and stated that if he did not comply she would send messages to his family informing them he was trying to solicit the services of a prostitute.”
The man emptied his bank account by sending her a further £56.81 and showed her screenshots of his bank account to confirm she had cleaned him out.
Little more than a fortnight later, another ghost Facebook account – Sarah Smith – began sending him messages telling him he needed to “learn a lesson.”
He sent her four sums of money and made three more payments two days later.
Ms Ritchie said: “He felt ashamed and embarrassed and sent money to prevent this information being shared.”
He made another four payments on October 5 but had no money left in the bank when further threatening messages arrived the next day, so he contacted police.
While officers were interviewing him at his workplace, he received 15 calls from the accused which he didn’t answer.
As MM continued to ignore Hunt, she contacted his father and asked him to pass on a message.
Police were again contacted and the bank account into which he had paid money was traced to Hunt, of St Nicholas Place, Dundee.
Three victims in total
Hunt admitted extorting £716.81 from the man between September 12 and October 17 2020.
She admitted extorting £50.59 from a second man by the same means between August 22 and 27 2020.
She admitted a third similar charge of blackmailing a man into handing over £650 between November 20 2020 and January 12 2021.
She had met him through the Kik app and they had spoken on a number of occasions so he could describe his sexual fantasies to her.
He initially thought he was being “kind” by sending her extra money, the court heard.
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