Cairns crime: Reece Samuel Nicol sentenced for extortion

A man who threatened a woman with references to her daughter in a bid to gain access to her iPhone was sentenced in Cairns District Court on Monday.

A MAN who threatened a single mother with references to her daughter in a bid to gain access to her iPhone pleaded guilty to extortion in Cairns District Court on Monday.

Reece Samuel Nicol, 32, was charged that between January 13 and 18 this year, he demanded the woman give him access to the phone stolen by another party.

A man who threatened a single mother with references to her daughter pleaded guilty to extortion in Cairns District Court.

Prosecutor Jessica Eagle-Rose told the court he threatened he would harm the woman’s business as well as making references to her daughter and the fact she was a single parent.

She said he tried to take several hundred dollars from her PayPal account.

Ms Eagle-Rose said when interviewed by police, Nicol said he did not threaten the woman and that the matter was initially listed for trial.

Reece Samuel Nicol pleaded guilty to extortion in Cairns District Court on Monday.

She said the woman suffered anxiety and paranoia and had to take time off work, resulting in financial loss.

Defence barrister Nicholas Brown said Nicol had a difficult upbringing.

He said Nicol developed a methamphetamine addiction driving road train long distances in his mid 20s.

He had a road accident, injured his shoulder, and his employment was terminated.

Judge Deborah Richards sentenced Reece Samuel Nicol to nine months in prison for extortion.

Judge Deborah Richards said Nicol had offended while on bail for a very serious offence and his behaviour was randomly aggressive.

“It’s been a bit of a downward slide – I accept the phone was not stolen by you,” she said.

Nicol said he was remorseful.

“I met up with the lady and returned the iPhone, I knew what I did was wrong,” he said.

Judge Richards said it would have been terrifying for the woman.

“You have children, and you threatened her child,” she said.

She sentenced Nicol to nine months imprisonment.

Originally published as Cairns crime: Reece Samuel Nicol sentenced for extortion