A convicted fraudster has been sentenced to over three years in prison after blackmailing a couple out of nearly half a million pounds.
On the morning of 26 September last year, Gary Taylor, 58, along with two accomplices dressed in black, approached a house in Walton. Taylor rang the doorbell while blocking the video camera with his hand. Receiving no answer, he slipped a threatening letter through the letterbox before smashing the video doorbell and leaving the scene.
The letter was addressed to a previous occupant and accused her partner of stealing £434,000 to fund a property. It warned of relentless pursuit until the money was repaid and threatened extreme violence.
“Your partner **** stole £434,000 from someone affiliated with us… This was a very big mistake and we will stop at absolutely nothing until this is paid back in full… We have now decided to authorise a contract which will be placed on the dark web with your present full address above.” The letter was signed “Taylor Made Logistics” and included an account number and sort code.
Police traced the bank details to Taylor, who was arrested at his Croydon home on 29 September. Taylor claimed he thought the letter was an apology and denied any threatening intent. He also admitted to punching the camera out of frustration over making a wasted trip.
Francis Alexander, 60, was later arrested at Stansted Airport and charged with blackmail, but was found not guilty at trial.
Following a five-day trial at Peterborough Crown Court, Taylor was convicted of blackmail. He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison this Friday.
Detective Constable Lauren Clark said: “Taylor is a malicious man who has now not only been convicted of blackmail but is also serving time for high-value fraud offences elsewhere. He will go to extreme lengths for financial gain but, thankfully, we stopped him before anyone was hurt or any money changed hands.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
