Cousins Jailed For Blackmail

Two cousins who terrified a man with threatening phone calls and text messages have been jailed.

Daniel Brown, 21, of Barton Road, Stretford and Michael Brown, 22, of Kingsway Park, Davyhulme, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit blackmail.

They were both sentenced to 16 months in jail at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

The pair sent the victim, a man, a series of phone calls and text messages demanding a payment of £600 in June and July 2009.

Daniel and Michael Brown regularly said they would attack the victim's house and his family.

The victim was first called in June 2009 by a man who he knew to be Michael Brown. Brown suggested he wanted money, and out of fear, the victim agreed to help.

Michael Brown called back six days later, from another mobile, this time in a threatening manner. He said he was calling from Danny Brown's phone. The victim knew of Danny Brown and was scared of him due to his reputation locally.

The victim called the police on 10 July 2009 when Michael Brown called him again, demanding the money, and this time threatened that he would attack his mother and damage his family home.

Before he was due to see the police on 13 July 2009, the victim received a number of phone calls from both Daniel and Michael Brown, including one from Micheal Brown that said: "You're gonna get slugs coming for ya."

These malicious phone calls and text messages left him utterly terrified, police said.

The victim took this to mean that he could be shot.

When he was with police officers on 13 July, both defendants continued to call the victim, but he did not answer.

That evening a brick was thrown through the window of the victim's house.

The police went to the house and the victim received another phone call, from a man he identified as Daniel Brown. The victim turned the phone onto loudspeaker and the officers present heard Brown saying that next time the victim's mother would be punched.

The police seized the victim's phone and examined it, while the victim left his house for a few days. During this time the windows of his house were smashed another three times.

Detective Constable Andrew Warren from Operation Viceroy said: "When the victim came into the police station, he was trembling and sweating. These malicious phone calls and text messages left him utterly terrified.

"This investigation shows that if there is any type of threat or blackmail the police will fully investigate it and catch those responsible."

(PR/BMcC)