A 21-year-old man has been jailed after blackmailing a teacher he deceived into sharing an explicit video, an ordeal that led to the victim losing his job and attempting to take his own life.
Muaawiya Ameen was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Derby Crown Court after pleading guilty to blackmail. The court heard that the victim had been communicating with an Instagram account he believed belonged to a woman, but which was actually operated by Ameen. The conversation became s3xual, with images exchanged before the teacher sent a video of himself carrying out a s3xual act in the disabled toilets of his workplace.
Ameen, still posing as a woman, later demanded £1,000 to prevent the footage from being shared. The victim paid £400 via PayPal in an attempt to stop the release before reporting the matter to police the same day.
Despite receiving payment, Ameen distributed the video to the teacher’s students, leading to the victim’s dismissal from his job and severe emotional distress.
During sentencing, Judge Shaun Smith KC condemned the actions. “The fact of the matter was this was wicked behaviour and led to a man losing his job,” he said. “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 with all of the students looking at it.
“He was finished in his job but worst of all, on the very night it was published, he tried to take his own life. Thankfully someone called him by chance and he says that saved his life. You know what you were doing and you achieved it.”
The victim, who has lifelong anonymity, told the court he suffered immense emotional stress and contemplated suicide as a result of the incident.
In mitigation, Ameen’s defence said he acted under pressure while trying to fit in with peers. “He fully accepts his actions were wrong and he is responsible,” his lawyer said. “He has the support of his family… This has been a learning experience for him.”