Callous Sheffield couple blackmailed mum with “pathetic” fake kidnap plot

Kenneth Gill extracted nearly £1,500 from his 69-year-old mum between January and August last year, claiming he would be beaten up if debts for a cocaine habit weren't paid, prosecutor Louise Gallagher told Sheffield Crown Court.

On August 10, Gill sent her a Facebook message saying: "Had four blokes keep me in their house and told me they wanted money or they would do me in."

A later message said: "That's why I'm not texting you. They gave me a bit of time to get more money."

Despite being told not to, Gill's mother was so worried she called the police who attended her home while she received more messages demanding money.

But officers traced Gill, and his girlfriend Sarah Mason, to the Sheffield Metropolitan Hotel in the early hours of August 11, where they were found "safe and well."

Mason said she had "gone along with the plan" and agreed to say the debt would be doubled if it wasn't paid.

Gill told officers he funded his lifestyle by getting money off his mother and previously had a cocaine problem which led to the loss of his job and the flat the couple rented.

"He estimated taking between £2,000 and £2,500 off his mother and said the money had never been used for drugs and there was no debt," said Ms Gallagher.

"They were spending the money on nights out and food. They travelled by taxi to the hotel where he concocted the story to get money from her."

In a statement, his mother said: "I felt so angry. He would never have done this two years ago."

Rebbeca Tanner, for Gill, 40, of Hastilar Road South, Sheffield, and Claire Ashcroft, for Mason, 34, of Spa View Way, Sheffield, said the couple were of previous good character and pleaded guilty to blackmail at the first opportunity.

Recorder Richard Wright QC told Gill: "You hounded your poor mother for money - money which you squandered on drugs and you ended up losing your home.

"You hatched a wicked plan to extort money from her by pretending to be kidnapped, whereas, in fact, the pair of you were holed up in a hotel room.

"Not only was she terrified and upset by your callous behaviour, but you also wasted police time. They expended significant resources to find you.

"You were no doubt planning how you would spend the money. It was a shameful and wicked thing to have done.

"But, the sum that was targeted was modest. Your pathetic plot was unravelled by the police pretty quickly and no real harm was done. Your mother must be utterly disgusted with you.

"The thing that saves you from going to prison is the very gracious letter from your victim, who pleads with me not to send you to prison."

On Friday, he sentenced them both to eight months, suspended for 12 months, and ordered 180 hours of unpaid work for Gill and 30 rehabilitation days for Mason.

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