"Wicked" Jarrow woman jailed after terrifying £23,000 blackmail plot that left victim with just 16p

A mum who used fake identities to issue sinister threats to a friend in a terrifying £23,000 blackmail plot that left the victim with just 16p to her name has been put behind bars.

Jenna Thompson posed as two men who warned the worried victim that her and her family would become targets if she did not send increasing large sums of money.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the relentless text warnings, from unknown numbers, were backed up with references to a "shooter" and picture messages of a crossbow and grenades.

By the end of the cruel nine-month campaign the victim, who believed the men messaging her had troubling reputations and would turn up at her home or work, had handed over £23,277 over 87 transactions, with all of her savings and current accounts wiped out.

One of the men Thompson had posed as was arrested, questioned and bailed by the police before the shocking truth was exposed.

When Thompson was questioned by detectives she said the victim, who had willingly helped her out with cash in the past, "could afford it" and had "bragged about how much money she had".

The victim said in an impact statement, which was read in court, she was "terrified for my life" and feared the threats she received would be carried out.

The woman added: "I felt like the only way to stay safe was to send him money."I have been living on nothing for months, sending all my money."

She said all of her wages would be sent to the blackmailer and she was left with nothing for day to day living, adding: "I was sending everything I had.

"Every payment I made was driven by fear. I feared for my safety and the safety of my family.

"I felt I had no choice, or there would be very bad consequences."

The victim said she woke up every day "sick with dread", lived in a "permanent state of panic" and ended up unable to leave the house alone.

She said: "I was convinced someone could be waiting for me to hurt me. I was terrified I would be attacked or my family would be hurt because of me."I felt responsible for protecting everyone but completely powerless to do so.

"I became depressed, anxious and paranoid, I felt I was going insane."

Thompson, 40, of Kennet Avenue, Jarrow, South Tyneside, admitted blackmail.

Miss Recorder Smith sentenced her to three years and four months behind bars for the "wicked" offending.

The recorder said Thompson caused "genuine terror" for the victim and added: "It left her penniless, at the time of her statement she had 16p left in her account."

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said Thompson originally sent the messages using one man's name and added: "Some of the messages contained photos of crossbows and grenades, with him saying he would use them against her."

The court heard when the desperate victim blocked that unknown number she started to receive messages from another, who claimed to be the original blackmailer's son who was "worse than his dad and would drive a car through the house".When Thompson was arrested she admitted she was behind the messages.

Mr Pallister said: "The defendant stated the victim used to brag about how much money she had and as the defendant needed money for utilities she blackmailed her to send her money."

Fiona Lamb, defending, said Thompson had no intention to carry out the threats that were made but accepts they would have caused anxiety to the victim.

Miss Lamb said the offence was committed out of "desperation" at a time when Thompson, who has mental health problems, was in financial difficulties and that character references describe a "very different person".

The court heard Thompson has never been in trouble before and has now shown remorse for that she did.