Man admits trying to blackmail babysitter

A 30-year-old man tried to extract $300,000 from his former babysitter over a historical sexual abuse allegation telling him to "find the money or he would go to jail", Nelson District Court was told yesterday.

The man, who had interim name suppression continued, admitted attempted blackmail and was remanded for a pre-sentence report and victim impact statement to April 19.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Stringer said the defendant went to the victim's Richmond workplace on January 25.

He asked the man to come outside, and then accused him of sexually molesting him when he was young. The victim denied the allegation.

The defendent then told him he would report the matter to police unless a total of $300,000 was paid to him and an associate.

"He told him to find the money or he would go to jail."

The threats were reiterated on January 29 by cellphone when the defendant provided his former babysitter with bank account details so he could deposit the money.

When spoken to by police, he admitted the facts and apologised.

"He said he should have gone to police in the first place rather than trying to get money out of the complainant," Mr Stringer said

The man re-stated his claim the victim sexually interfered with him when he was younger.

- NZPA