A married couple from the East of England has been sentenced to prison for orchestrating a cruel blackmail scheme targeting the clients of the wife's sex work business.
The Blackmail Plot Unveiled
Leanne Potter-Williamson, 39, and Daniel Williamson, 40, admitted to multiple counts of blackmail between August 2023 and January 2024. The court heard that the couple, facing significant financial difficulties, devised a plan to extort money from men who had made contact with Potter-Williamson online.
Prosecutor Neil King explained that Potter-Williamson would meet men through adult services websites. Subsequently, the victims would receive threatening messages, primarily from Williamson, demanding payment to prevent their activities from being exposed to their partners.
Threats and Payments
One man was told by Potter-Williamson that she knew his partner and he would have to pay to ensure her silence. This victim made three payments totalling £130 into an account under Williamson's name.
In another instance, a victim received a menacing text message from a number linked to Williamson, which read: "I will be on my way to your home address for a chat. Let’s hope the wife is not home, as she will be p***** with you."
Cambridge Crown Court was told that Williamson admitted to ten counts of blackmail, while Potter-Williamson pleaded guilty to three counts.
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Judge Philip Grey sentenced Daniel Williamson to seven years and four months in prison. Leanne Potter-Williamson received a sentence of three years and one month.
During the sentencing, Judge Grey stated that the couple had been in financial trouble, partly due to loss of work. He noted that Williamson had admitted to heavy gambling debts, while Potter-Williamson had referenced using illegal substances.
The judge identified Williamson as the "driver of this offending" but said Potter-Williamson was a "willing and enthusiastic collaborator." He emphasised that the pair had worked out a method to "apply pressure to people to make money" and intentionally sought to "terrify or horrify" their victims into paying.
Judge Grey also made a point to clarify that the men targeted were not doing anything illegal, stating, "Whatever you might think of the morality of those using your online services Mrs Potter-Williamson, there’s no suggestion any of them was doing anything illegal."
