Personal trainer attempted to blackmail rich ex-boyfriend for £10m by telling people he performed 'degrading' sex acts, Portsmouth Crown Court hears

Jennifer Mbazira claims the man, who she met on a dating site called Encounters, abused her sexually and mentally so her demands were justified to 'redress the wrongs she suffered'.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard she threatened to inform the man’s business associates, friends and family of the ‘degrading’ sex acts on her – in an effort to blackmail him for £10m.

After their 'on and off' relationship of three years ended, Mbazira got back in touch and initially asked him to lend her £20,000 to 'support her business'.

The alleged victim, who must remain anonymous for legal reasons, instead offered £2,000 as a 'goodwill gesture', a jury was told.

After this she sent him a series of emails in which she claimed he had mistreated her, adding that she was 'living a life of poverty with her son while he enjoyed a life of luxury', the court heard.

In what was described as 'an act of generosity' the businessman offered her £20,000 which Mbazira, a 50-year-old mother, rejected.

The jury heard she then demanded £10m and claimed that if he didn't transfer the money 'she would contact his business associates and family about private sexual activities'.

The man denied any sexual misconduct and reported her threatening emails to the police.

Appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court for the start of her trial, Miss Mbazira, who currently lives in London, chose to represent herself without a barrister.

She denies one charge of blackmail between November 2018 and February 2019.

Orlando Gibbons, prosecuting, told the court: ‘She made unwarranted demands. These were not justified at all.

‘[The victim] will tell you that he got into a relationship with [Miss Mbazira] in about 2015, having met on a dating site called Encounters.’

Mr Gibbons said their relationship was 'on and off', with the man breaking up with her several times before the pair finally parted ways in February, 2018.

He added: ‘Four months later she contacted him, asking for £20,000.

‘She described this as a loan to support a business she said she was starting up.

‘He declined because he didn't think it was a good idea to be in a business relationship with somebody he was no longer in a relationship with... he told her he wasn't interested.

‘However, out of the goodness of his own heart, he offered her £2,000 as a goodwill gesture.

‘In November 2018, she sent an email to him saying how upset she was by their relationship coming to an end and that she felt he was in breach of a verbal contract to help her.

‘No complaints were made to anybody else at this stage.

‘She felt she invested a great deal in to the relationship, not just financially, and was upset he didn't want to assist her.

‘In further emails she made allegations of sexual acts she said were degrading in their relationship.

‘She went on to say she had been mistreated... she was living a life of poverty with her son while he enjoyed a life of luxury and didn't want to assist her.

‘He felt at some stage he was being blackmailed so in an act of generosity he offered her £20,000 and hoped the matter would rest there.

‘She told him she was rejecting the offer of £20,000 and was demanding £10m because she wanted to set up a new home for herself and her son and wanted to put him through university.’

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The court heard Miss Mbazira made a 'threat she would contact his business associates and family about private sexual activities' if she did not get the £10m.

Mr Gibbons said the victim decided to contact the police and say he was being blackmailed in February 2019 and Miss Mbazira was arrested, when she gave a 'mostly no comment' interview.

The court heard she told police her business had suffered as she had sacrificed it to prioritise their relationship.

She said she wanted to take legal action against him for 'breaching a verbal contract business arrangement and his abusive behaviour towards her during their relationship'.

Miss Mbazira claimed the £10m she asked for was justified to 'redress the wrongs she suffered in the course of their relationship sexually and mentally'.

(Proceeding)

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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