This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7213151.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Jail for Tesco blackmail plotter Jail for Tesco blackmail plotter
(40 minutes later)
A former tax inspector has been jailed for six years for a £1m blackmail plot against Tesco.A former tax inspector has been jailed for six years for a £1m blackmail plot against Tesco.
Philip McHugh, 52, from Clitheroe, Lancashire, demanded £500,000 from the supermarket giant twice last year.Philip McHugh, 52, from Clitheroe, Lancashire, demanded £500,000 from the supermarket giant twice last year.
He sent 76 letters threatening to bomb stores and to contaminate Tesco products if the company refused to comply with his demand for money.He sent 76 letters threatening to bomb stores and to contaminate Tesco products if the company refused to comply with his demand for money.
His threats resulted in 14 stores across the UK closing last July as a security precaution.His threats resulted in 14 stores across the UK closing last July as a security precaution.
The judge at St Albans Crown Court said McHugh was guilty of a sustained and serious effort to extort money from the chain.The judge at St Albans Crown Court said McHugh was guilty of a sustained and serious effort to extort money from the chain.
'Black Saturday''Black Saturday'
He pleaded guilty last year to three sample charges of blackmail and two of communicating a bomb hoax targeting the retailer.He pleaded guilty last year to three sample charges of blackmail and two of communicating a bomb hoax targeting the retailer.
The campaign started last May when McHugh sent a series of letters to Tesco offices in Dundee, threatening to contaminate food unless he was paid £100,000.The campaign started last May when McHugh sent a series of letters to Tesco offices in Dundee, threatening to contaminate food unless he was paid £100,000.
When this failed McHugh, who was addicted to online gambling and had debts of £37,000, sent a series of increasingly threatening letters to Tesco's headquarters in Hertfordshire.When this failed McHugh, who was addicted to online gambling and had debts of £37,000, sent a series of increasingly threatening letters to Tesco's headquarters in Hertfordshire.
I'm absolutely desperate and blood will flow if you do not cooperate Philip McHughI'm absolutely desperate and blood will flow if you do not cooperate Philip McHugh
He said he would put caustic soda in yogurt sold in the store if Tesco did not transfer £200,000 into his bank account.He said he would put caustic soda in yogurt sold in the store if Tesco did not transfer £200,000 into his bank account.
When this also failed, he sent hoax bomb warnings to 76 Tesco supermarkets, warning bombs would go off in the stores on 14 July, which he called "Black Saturday".When this also failed, he sent hoax bomb warnings to 76 Tesco supermarkets, warning bombs would go off in the stores on 14 July, which he called "Black Saturday".
On this date stores were evacuated and temporarily closed in Port Talbot, south Wales; Pontefract, West Yorkshire; Market Harborough and Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire; Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; Hucknall, Nottinghamshire; Hereford and Ledbury, in Herefordshire; Barnes, south-west London, and in East Renfrewshire and Fife.On this date stores were evacuated and temporarily closed in Port Talbot, south Wales; Pontefract, West Yorkshire; Market Harborough and Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire; Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk; Hucknall, Nottinghamshire; Hereford and Ledbury, in Herefordshire; Barnes, south-west London, and in East Renfrewshire and Fife.
The other closures took place in regions covered by the Lancashire and Humberside police forces.The other closures took place in regions covered by the Lancashire and Humberside police forces.
The closures cost the chain an estimated £1.4m in lost revenue.The closures cost the chain an estimated £1.4m in lost revenue.
Severe depressionSevere depression
McHugh wrote to the executives of the supermarket chain following the bomb hoaxes demanding £200 a day, and an overall figure of £1m.McHugh wrote to the executives of the supermarket chain following the bomb hoaxes demanding £200 a day, and an overall figure of £1m.
He wrote: "I'm absolutely desperate and blood will flow if you do not cooperate."He wrote: "I'm absolutely desperate and blood will flow if you do not cooperate."
"And I WILL destroy your business and others will pick up your customers.""And I WILL destroy your business and others will pick up your customers."
McHugh set up a bank account to receive the money, but was only able to withdraw £200 a day. At that rate it would have taken more than 13 years to withdraw the full sum. McHugh set up a bank account to receive the money, but it only allowed him to withdraw £200 a day.
At that rate it would have taken more than 13 years to withdraw the full sum.
McHugh suffered severe depression in the months leading up to his campaign, and told a psychiatrist he saw the blackmail attempt as a "last gamble" at getting his life back on track.McHugh suffered severe depression in the months leading up to his campaign, and told a psychiatrist he saw the blackmail attempt as a "last gamble" at getting his life back on track.
Detective Chief Inspector Bill Jephson, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, which led the investigation, said McHugh was a desperate man, without any means to make money.Detective Chief Inspector Bill Jephson, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, which led the investigation, said McHugh was a desperate man, without any means to make money.
He said: "He didn't think twice or even care about the possible consequences of his actions. He became fixated and enjoyed the thrill of blackmailing Tesco."He said: "He didn't think twice or even care about the possible consequences of his actions. He became fixated and enjoyed the thrill of blackmailing Tesco."