Prostitute secretly recorded a client for blackmail, court told

A PROSTITUTE threatened to send a secretly recorded sex video to a client’s fiancée if he didn’t hand over money, a court has been told.

Prosecutors claimed at Belfast High Court that the man also received a screenshot of him standing naked as part of the extortion plot.

Details emerged as the 22-year-old woman accused of targeting him was refused bail. Lorna White, of Market Street in Tandragee, Co Armagh, faces counts of blackmail, possessing criminal property and intimidation of a witness.

Her boyfriend is charged with similar offences over allegations they demanded money with menaces. The injured party informed police earlier this year he was being blackmailed by a prostitute and another unknown man, the court heard.

According to the prosecution he had met her several times for sex, either in his car or at her flat, after they began contact in July 2017. Kate McKay, for the prosecution, claimed Ms White and her partner then started requesting cash to stop his fiancée finding out he had been seeing a prostitute.

Following one meeting in March the man allegedly received a text message from the co-accused’s phone.

“He was informed the applicant had videoed them having sex, and if he did not pay £500 they would send the video to his fiancée,” Ms McKay said.

In a further phone call he was allegedly told he owed £1,000 (€1,100). It was claimed the pair drove him to an ATM to withdraw some of the cash.

During a series of alleged text messages the figure was then said to have increased to £3,000 (€3,400).

“He was sent a screenshot of him standing naked in the applicant’s bedroom,” Ms McKay contended.

“At this time the injured party was under financial duress. He went online to increase a loan he had to pay the applicant and co-accused, but decided to go to the police.”

Ms White and her boyfriend were arrested in May this year after phone checks were carried out.

Although they were released on police bail, Ms McKay claimed the injured party’s fiancée then received messages from a Facebook profile asking her to get him to drop the charges.

Opposing bail, the prosecutor submitted there could be further alleged witness intimidation if Ms White was freed.

Defence counsel Justin Byrne argued she should be released due to delays in the case. He said: “She accepts, although doesn’t say at interview, that she was working as a prostitute.

“She met this man (and) her case is she was collecting money owed to her from him. He had been a regular client.”

Madam Justice McBride ruled bail must be refused.