Extortionist jailed for three years

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A New Plymouth pensioner has been robbed of his retirement savings by a man who blackmailed him, threatening to expose unsavoury information he claimed to have about him.

Although he did not recall having any previous contact with Campbell Christianson-Knight the 76-year-old paid him several large sums. However, after the demands continued he confided in his wife that he had fallen victim to an extortionist and the police were called.

In the High Court at Rotorua this afternoon Christianson-Knight, 38, unemployed, was sentenced to two years six months' imprisonment on two separate blackmail charges. Justice Graham Lang ordered that the sentences be served concurrently. He was also ordered to make reparation of $8000 at $50 a week once he is released from prison, although the judge said there was little likelihood Christianson-Knight would ever be able to repay the full amount.

"Your victim will never be able to replace that money, you have ruined his retirement," he told Christianson-Knight.

Since being blackmailed the victim no longer trusted anybody and was wary of walking outside in case he encountered Christianson-Knight or his associates. To a large degree he had lost his confidence.

Justice Lang noted Christianson-Knight had previously been convicted in Australia on an extortion charge and was jailed for three years.

When Christianson-Knight's defence counsel failed to appear as scheduled he told the judge he was happy for the matter to proceed without legal representation. He had pleaded guilty to both charges in the Rotorua District Court in October.

Outlining the case against Christianson-Knight, Justice Lang said his victim had twice driven to banks to withdraw the $4000 demanded of him.

The second time Christianson-Knight contacted his victim he did so by tracing his address from a document he stole from the elderly man's car and used to trace his telephone number. He again threatened to release information he claimed to know about the man.

"You indicated to the complainant that this would bring the matter to finality but on two further occasions you telephoned him and again attempted to extort funds from him," the judge said.

After a second call on July 7 the victim confided in his wife. "It was no doubt at her prompting the police were called," Justice Lang said.

Three weeks later Christianson-Knight had been found in Rotorua where he admitted pressuring the man for money, claiming he had done so because he had been living with people who made him feel financially inadequate and his actions would prove to them that he was a successful person.

At the time of his offending Christianson-Knight had been using drugs and alcohol.

Although Christianson-Knight had entered an early guilty plea, saving his victim the trauma of giving evidence at a trial, he was on bail when he offended.

He noted Christianson-Knight claimed he had only received $8000 from his victim although the man said the amount extorted from him was nearer $13,000.

The victim's name has been permanently suppressed.

- NZPA