A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for blackmailing a teacher into sending an explicit video and then distributing it to students, which led to the victim losing his job and attempting suicide.
Details of the case
Muaawiya Ameen, from Allenton in Derbyshire, pretended to be a woman on Instagram and engaged the teacher in a conversation that turned sexual. During the exchange, the victim sent a video of himself performing a sexual act at his workplace.
Prosecutors told Derby Crown Court that Ameen later demanded £1,000 to prevent the footage from being shared. The teacher paid £400 via PayPal in an attempt to stop the video from being released and contacted the police on the same day, as reported by The Sun.
Distribution of footage
Despite receiving the payment, Ameen went on to distribute the footage to the teacher’s students. The victim, who has lifelong anonymity, was dismissed from his job and later attempted suicide.
Judge's remarks
Sentencing Ameen to 15 months in prison, Judge Shaun Smith KC described his actions as “wicked behaviour”. The judge noted, “He went through all of the worries about his privacy, reputation and personal safety. Even when the money was paid you still sent it out.” He added that the consequences for the victim were severe: “He was finished in his job but worst of all, on the very night it was published, he tried to take his own life. You know what you were doing and you achieved it.”
Victim's statement
In a statement read to the court, the victim described the emotional toll of the incident, saying he suffered extreme distress and felt his life had been destroyed.
Defence and sentencing
Ameen admitted to blackmail. His defence lawyer argued that he had acted under pressure and was trying to fit in with people he believed to be his friends. “He fully accepts his actions were wrong and he is responsible,” his lawyer told the court, adding that he has family support and is employed in a family business.
The court heard that the victim survived after someone contacted him on the night he attempted to take his life.
This case highlights the serious consequences of online exploitation and blackmail, particularly when victims are targeted through social media platforms.
