A MAN has had his time behind bars extended after being convicted of a second offence of blackmail.

David Kennett has been serving a two-year prison sentence since August last year after leaving his victims' lives "in ruins".

Kennett, 48 and of HMP Channings Wood, was back before Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, January 28, having pleaded guilty to a separate offence, which pre-dated the other crime by a matter of weeks.

Sentencing judge Recorder Benjamin Newton handed the defendant, who had no other previous convictions, a nine-month prison sentence to run consecutively to his current term of imprisonment.

"It is a real tragedy that in this stage of your life you have descended to this level of offending," said Recorder Newton.

Prosecuting, Stuart Ellacott said the two separate offences could be seen as a "campaign of blackmail", with two instances involving the defendant "clearly looking for financial gain".

Mr Ellacott told the court the matter Kennett was being sentenced for took place over a short period in May last year when he formed a perception he had been wronged.

The previous month the defendant had messaged the victim asking if he could borrow £1,000 to pay rent. The victim did not reply.

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Kennett, previously of Leven Avenue, Bournemouth, sent a message to the victim over WhatsApp making demands and threats on May 22.

The court heard part of a message read "sorry it has come to this but nothing less than you deserve". The same message was sent later that day and twice the following day.

Mr Ellacott said the victim contacted police and asked them to speak with the defendant to get the contact to stop.

However, the messages resumed just days later with Kennett saying he had hired a private detective.

The victim contacted police again and the defendant was arrested on June 17. He was not charged until September after giving a no comment interview in early August.

Meanwhile, Kennett, who previously worked as a teacher, in the NHS and as a barber, had appeared in court and been sentenced for the other blackmail offence.

Mitigating, Kevin Hill said the defendant was not someone who had troubled the courts or police until the blackmail matters took place when "unfortunately events came together and he was particularly low".

Mr Hill said at the time of the offences Kennett was in financial debts and his mental health could be described as being "very poor".

The offender had been doing well in prison with a role in the library.

Recorder Newton said if he was dealing with the single offence of blackmail the sentence would have been 18 months' imprisonment, but to reflect the totality principle he handed down the nine-month consecutive term. He also issued a 10-year restraining order.

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