Man pretended to be journalist to extort money from elderly sex offender, court hears

A 31-year-old man from Wexford pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft following an extortion scheme targeting an elderly sex offender. The defendant and an associate posed as journalists, threatening to publish photographs in national and local newspapers unless the victim paid €10,000. The victim, an 82-year-old former school principal and Cavan native, initially handed over €1,000 during a house…