A BLACKMAILER who extorted £628,000 out of his victim has been jailed for 11 years.

Anthony Still, 52, of St John's Road, Clacton, was found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court today.

Still spent eight years tormenting his victim after discovering the businessman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was involved with a teenage rent boy.

Unemployed Still claimed the money was for internet research into male escort agencies but the jury did not believe his explanation and reached a unanimous guilty verdict following the four week trial.

Det Supt Simon Parkes, said: "This was a complex and sensitive investigation which called upon the skills and experience of many officers from the Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate.

"The victim had been living under significant duress for many years.

"He has displayed great courage and trust in the police in coming forward.

"This trust has led to a jury delivering a guilty verdict and I hope this goes some way to encouraging those who find themselves the victim of sensitive crimes to come forward to the police.”

Chris McCann head of the CPS East of England Complex Casework Unit said: "Blackmail is a despicable crime.

"Paying a blackmailer is no guarantee the demands will stop.

"If anything the demands increase and the victim faces both the fear of exposure and keeping up the payments, as occurred in this case when £628,000 was paid.

"The only way to stop a blackmailer is to go to the police and I would like to reassure victims if they do, we will do everything in our power to protect their identity from becoming public.

"The victim was known in court as "Barnaby" and gave evidence from behind screens so they could not be seen.

"This is something we would do for any blackmail victim.

"Victim and witness are is at the heart of what we do and this case demonstrates blackmail victims can come forward and see justice done without fearing their identities will be revealed."