O'Donnell, R. v

(a) On 29 March 2006 the offender was arraigned before Her Honour Judge Kennedy sitting at Belfast Crown Court on an indictment containing a single charge of blackmail, contrary to Section 20 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969. The offender pleaded not guilty.

(b) On 19 May 2006 the offender was re-arraigned before His Honour Judge Finnegan and pleaded guilty. His Honour Judge Finnegan adjourned the case for sentencing.

(c) On 28 June 2006 His Honour Judge Finnegan sitting at Belfast Crown Court (sitting in Downpatrick) sentenced the offender to a Custody Probation Order of 6 years, consisting of 4� years' imprisonment followed by 18 months on probation.

(a) On 16 September 2004, 3 men called at the premises of a local business man "A". A runs a transport business in Ardglass. The 3 men accused A of stealing some cigarettes from a person in England. He was told that he had 5 days to sort the matter out and pay back the money and that if he failed to do so, he "would be put in a hole". He was given a mobile phone number to contact. The Crown did not make the case that the offender was one of these three men. A contacted the police who then set up surveillance and tape recorded all subsequent telephone calls.

(b) A number of telephone calls and text messages followed and, in particular, on 20 September 2004 A received a call at work. As a result he rang the mobile telephone number that he had been given and a male answered to whom he had spoken before and whose voice he recognised as that of one of the men who had earlier visited his premises. This man demanded �300,000 in recompense for the load of cigarettes stolen in England and A was told that if this was not sorted out he would be back to see him.