"Mahmood operated a web of lies and manipulated the victims"
Zeashan Mahmood, aged 29, of Preston, was jailed for seven years and three months over a revenge porn plot.
Preston Crown Court heard he blackmailed two women over a three-year period, extorting a total of nearly £90,000 from them.
During the trial, the victims came forward to testify against Mahmood.
One woman explained that she had disclosed private pictures and videos to Mahmood in 2017.
In January 2018, he told her that he was in financial difficulty and pressured her to send him money.
At a later date, Mahmood contacted her on Instagram under an alias and threatened her. He demanded that she send him more money or he would share the intimate pictures and videos online.
He also made threats against her family if she did not comply. Out of fear, she sent Mahmood around £20,000.
The second victim said she had told Mahmood about an intimate sexual experience she had with a boyfriend.
Mahmood then claimed he had a video of the incident and demanded £7,000 from her or he would send the video to her family and friends.
Mahmood also demanded that the victim send intimate pictures, videos and texts of a sexual nature. If she did not do this, he threatened to increase the fee.
He told the victim that he needed money to stop the videos from being published and the blackmail was part of his involvement in an organised crime group.
Mahmood later created more fake Instagram accounts, which he used to message the victim and convince her that his claim was real so that she would continue sending sexual content and money to him.
Over a three-year period, the victim sent Mahmood in excess of £66,000.
Despite receiving the money, Mahmood uploaded the videos he had received of the victim online and encouraged users to share them.
The victim reported the revenge porn plot to police, however, Mahmood then sent her cars to her address, telling her “money is needed”.
He also sent emails, stating “guess who is alive” with attachments of sexual images of the victim, threatening to finally expose her further.
Mahmood was arrested in February 2021 as part of a joint effort between Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Police.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of blackmail and three counts of distributing indecent images with intent to cause distress.
Mahmood was jailed for seven years and three months.
Detective Constable Brundrett, of GMP Manchester’s Criminal Investigation Department, said:
“I would like to thank the victims for having the bravery to speak out about this horrific and long-term abuse.”
“Over three years, Mahmood operated a web of lies and manipulated the victims to get exactly what he wanted, when he wanted.
“The severity of these offences should not be underestimated.
“Today’s sentence is much deserved and reaffirms our commitment as police officers to put these perpetrators behind bars and prevent this awful crime from occurring.”
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