A MAN who tried to blackmail a Dudley woman into handing over £200 by threatening to post photographs of her online has avoided spending time behind bars.

Michael Greening, who had a short relationship with the victim, made the threats when she told him she wanted to reconcile with her husband, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 34-year-old sent her messages saying he would post the images on the internet and inform her family unless she paid him the money, said Ekwall Tiwana, prosecuting.

He said the victim was "at her wits end" when she decided to report the matter to the police.

Officers were able to analyse the contents of her mobile telephone and Greening was quickly arrested.

In a victim impact statement, she told police how the blackmail threat had caused her a "great deal of stress and anxiety".

"Blackmail is one of the most serious crimes you can commit," Recorder Jason Macadam told Greening. "You are extremely fortunate not to be going to prison for some time."

He said he was just able to avoid imposing a sentence of immediate custody because Greening had learning difficulties, adding: "It is important you receive some rehabilitation rather than punishment.

"It is important something is done to stop you doing this kind of thing again in the future."

Greening of Bidford, Warwickshire, had been committed to the crown court for sentence by Dudley Magistrates Court after admitting blackmail.

He was given a 15 month jail term suspended for two years.

Greening must have no contact with the victim or go to her Dudley home for the next five years.