A businessman was threatened by a violent thug and ordered to sack two members of staff in blackmail plot.
During a terrifying 11-minute conversation Craig Merrigan warned the victim he had four days to fire two named people from his business, in South Tyneside, or he would face repercussions. Newcastle Crown Court heard the business owner rejected Merrigan's demands outright and alerted the police.
Prosecutor Nicholas Lane told the court: "Over the course of a conversation lasting about 11 minutes Merrigan repeatedly threatened him and demanded £5,000 from him. Merrigan accused the complainant of having been arrested for sexually assaulting a member of staff, something we know to be untrue.
