A man who attempted to blackmail a Dudley woman whom he’d a short relationship with, has avoided time behind bars.

Michael Greening, threatened to post pictures of the victim online unless she handed over £200, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

But the woman reported the matter to police who were able to analyse the contents of her mobile phone, and Greening was quickly arrested. The 34-year-old of Bidford, Warwickshire, was committed to crown court for sentence by Dudley Magistrates Court after admitting blackmail.

He was given a 15-month jail term suspended for two years.