Jarrow Woman Jailed 40 Months for Extorting £23,000 from Friend

A 40-year-old woman from Jarrow has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for blackmailing her close friend, extorting more than £23,000 over nine months through a deceptive scheme involving fake identities and threats. Jenna Thompson, of Kennet Avenue, pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to the offenses, which left her victim with just 16 pence in her bank account after draining savings that once totaled around £28,000.

The extortion began in November 2023, when the victim started receiving text messages from an unknown number. The sender posed as a man with whom Thompson had previously been in a relationship, demanding money be transferred to Thompson's bank account under threat of violence. The messages continued every few days, requesting varying amounts, large and small, until July 2024. In total, the victim made 87 bank transfers amounting to £23,446.

Thompson escalated the intimidation by sending images of a crossbow and grenades, along with warnings that they would be used against the victim's home. She also referenced acquiring a "new shooter." Threats included plans to visit the victim's home and workplace, damage her and her mother's car, smash home windows, and...