A bully who blackmailed a teenage boy with special needs has been locked up for two years.
Cardiff Crown Court heard how the boy, who a judge ruled should not be identified, went by cab to deliver £550 to Abid Mohammed after the 18-year-old threatened his younger victim with violence.
The vulnerable boy had taken the cash from his own bank account without the knowledge of the carers who support his day-to-day living.
His taxi driver later made a statement to police telling them about a telephone conversation he overheard during the journey.
“He heard his passenger pitifully protesting that he was bringing the money,” said prosecutor Tony Trigg.
“He went on to say: ‘I know I’m a bad person and I deserve to die – anyone who knows me should not be my friend.’
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“He posted the cash through a letter box at St Fagans Road, Fairwater, where he had been told to make the delivery.”
It was the home of Mohammed who later admitted charges of blackmail and possessing cannabis with intent to supply it after police found 33 street deals in the property.
'Mental anguish caused'
He claimed his “vulnerable” victim had been spreading rumours about him and that he had confronted him with the allegation and asked for compensation.
Mr Trigg said: “He demanded £500 and said he would hurt the boy if he didn’t pay up. He was very frightened.
“The boy said later that he had given him an extra £50 so that he would be happy.
“But the next day there was another demand, this time for £100, and when he became distressed a carer asked him what was wrong and he confessed what was happening saying he had taken his own card and gone to Lloyds bank to withdraw the cash.”.
Passing sentence Judge Stephen Hopkins QC said blackmail was more serious than theft because of the mental anguish caused.
“You are a bully and you targeted a particularly unfortunate young man,” he told the defendant.
“Police officers also discovered you had 33 bags of cannabis ready for sale on the streets – you were playing a significant role.”
The teenager will serve his sentence in a young offenders’ institution.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/bully-blackmailed-vulnerable-teenager-special-10612767
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