Courts / Dublin / Report

Men who blackmailed school girl by threatening to leak OnlyFans photos fail in sentence appeals

Date
2023-05-15

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Court of Appeal has dismissed sentence appeals by Dawid Michalik and Daniel Stepien, who were convicted of blackmailing a teenage girl by threatening to leak explicit photos from her OnlyFans account unless she paid €10,000. Both men pleaded guilty to making an unwarranted demand for money with menaces between March 6 and 9, 2021. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Michalik to two years' imprisonment and Stepien to three-and-a-half years. David Ostrowski, who also pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces, received 150 hours of community service in lieu of 21 months' imprisonment due to his age at the time of the offence. Michalik and Stepien, who had cannabis possession charges taken into account, argued their sentences were excessive, with Michalik claiming a minimal role. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Birmingham, rejected these arguments, describing the scheme as a sophisticated plan designed to maximize intimidating effect. The court noted that both appellants had previous convictions and that the sentences were not unduly severe. Consequently, the original custodial sentences were upheld, and the matter was concluded with the dismissal of the appeals.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Men who blackmailed school girl by threatening to leak OnlyFans photos fail in sentence appeals. Charges or matters: making an unwarranted demand for €10K with menaces on dates between March 6 and March 9, 2021; the same offence of making demands of €10K and had nine convictions for road traffic offences; demanding money with menaces. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

March 6 Incident
March 9, 2021 Incident
March 2021 Incident
2023-05-15 Publication

Why: Ms Justice Birmingham remarked that it could be said Michalik "did very well because it is a particularly nasty offence". CNI source report

Case subjects

David Ostrowski

Defendant

Charges: making an unwarranted demand for €10K with menaces on dates between March 6 and March 9, 2021; the same offence of making demands of €10K and had nine convictions for road traffic offences; demanding money with menaces (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Ostrowski's age in March 2021 meant that he did not receive a custodial sentence and was given 150 hours of community service in lieu of 21 months' imprisonment.

Dawid Michalik

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Stepien and Michalik, who both had cannabis possession charges taken into account, appealed the length of their sentences.