Offender jailed for blackmail and disclosing private photos leading to tragic death

Martin McMenamin, also known as Martin Hill and residing at Brackenfield Court in Eston, was found guilty of blackmail and the unauthorized sharing of a private photograph. With a criminal history comprising 15 prior convictions for 22 different offenses, including a burglary and the possession of an imitation firearm in 2018, he had a record of serious offenses. McMenamin falsely accused his former partner of engaging in prostitution and threatened to publish intimate images and videos of her on Facebook unless she paid him £100. Additionally, he threatened to disclose her client list to her parents. He posted her image on social media, publicly claiming she was a prostitute, which caused her significant distress. Her daughter reported that her mother felt her entire life was shattered. Following these events, the victim was found dead in her bed from an overdose of multiple substances. Judge Timothy Stead sentenced McMenamin to three years and four months of imprisonment. The court described his conduct as 'revolting,' and heard that his attempts to shift blame onto the victim caused additional suffering to her grieving family. It was remarked that McMenamin's actions were so damaging that he could hardly have caused more harm. Detective Sergeant Kayleigh Wilson of Cleveland Police commented on the case, expressing satisfaction with the sentence and emphasizing the importance of support for abuse victims. McMenamin’s solicitor stated that he was genuinely remorseful and blamed himself for the tragic death of his ex-partner.