Cruel man preyed on owners of missing pets and made them 'physically sick'

A man has been jailed for blackmailing people by pretending he had their missing pets. 24-year-old Ben Woolveridge would scour social media for users who were in search of their missing pets and then demand money for the safe return of the animals.

Woolveridge would lie and tell the owners that he was in possession of their beloved pets and on some occasions he would threaten to harm or kill the pets if they refused to pay him. In one instance, Woolveridge threatened to kill the dog of a victim and after she paid him, he told her: "Now I can buy a new car."

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Another incident involved Woolveridge demanding £1,000 from another victim – claiming that the victim’s dog would be shot if money was not received. One anonymous victim of Woolveridge's said: “This male made me feel physically sick.

“During the call, I was shaking and shivering uncontrollably. The fact that he was mocking me made me feel completely humiliated. I don’t think I will never forget the way he made me feel that day.”

Cumbria Police launched Operation Façade after reports came in from across the country – many of which seemed to be linked to Cumbria.

Woolveridge, from Barrown-in-Furness, Cumbria, was arrested as part of Operation Façade after analysis of phone evidence linked him to several cases of blackmail. Woolveridge was convicted on October 26 of nine counts of blackmail and asked for 73 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

The blackmailer has been sentenced to prison for three years and eight months,