Browse Sections

• Education
• Business
• Blog
• Special reports

Nephew blackmailed wealthy uncle

19/ 3/2008

A MAN, who masterminded a blackmail plot to extort £50,000 from his wealthy uncle, has been jailed for seven years.
Mohammed Ibraheem, 20, sent businessman Haroon Afzal a string of anonymous texts warning him there was a `price on his head' and demanding cash.

The threats were reinforced when a bullet was fired through the terrified victim's bedroom window and he bravely alerted police.

Detectives began monitoring the messages and set up a `sting' by arranging for the money to be dropped off in the car park of a Stockport pub.

They then swooped after the parcel of fake cash was picked up by another man before Ibraheem drove away from the scene.
The money was found in Ibraheem's car together with a mobile phone which had been used to send the threatening texts.
Now Ibraheem, of Braemar Road, Fallowfield, is behind bars after being convicted of blackmailing father-of-four Mr Afzal who lived with his family in Bournlea Ave, Burnage.

The second man, Kevin Williams, 34, of Hazel Avenue, Cheadle, who had been recruited by Ibraheem to pick up the cash, was jailed for 12 months.

Williams pleaded guilty to the blackmail charge and gave evidence for the prosecution in Ibraheem's trial.
Ibraheem, a full-time carer for his invalid mother, was told by Judge Michael Henshell: "You were the instigator of the offence by a very considerable margin.

"It was a wicked offence and the effect of the threats on your uncle was very considerable indeed. I am prepared to accept it was the product of a relatively immature mind and you did not appreciate the wickedness of it."

The judge said Williams, a drug addicted petty crook with numerous previous convictions, had played a limited role in the blackmail having been recruited just to collect the parcel of money from the drop off point.

Mr Afzal, who runs a property business in Longsight began getting threatening calls last July telling there was a £35,000 price on his head.

Over a few weeks he got a series of texts demanding money and finally called police after the bullet was fired through his window.

The `sting' was then set up and a drop-off point arranged on the car park of the Cheshire Line Tavern, Cheadle.
But police were keeping surveillance as Williams collected the fake money before getting into Ibraheem's car and minutes later both men were arrested.