A "relentless" Lewisham blackmailer who repeatedly threatened a family with violence and kidnap unless they gave him £10,000 has been jailed for four years.

Richard McDonald, 57, of Lewisham Way, admitted blackmailing the family in Sheerness and was jailed at Maidstone Crown Court on October 28.

On September 5, he targeted the family at their business in Minster-on-Sea, repeatedly calling their shop and demanding money from around 8am.

He threatened to both harm and kidnap the victims and their extended family which included children unless his demands were met.

McDonald, who was travelling through France, told them the money was owed in connection to a property in Spain and that he would attend the shop to follow up his threats if he didn’t receive the cash.

The family agreed to pay McDonald a quantity of money which was transferred into his account, only for him to demand more, continuing to call them throughout the day making further threats.

They eventually reported the incident to police and he was arrested on September 6.

As part of the investigation officers checked McDonald’s mobile phone and it was found to have been used to make the calls to the shop.

His vehicle was also seen at the French Channel Tunnel at around 3.10pm on September 5 before it returned to the UK at around 4.52pm.

As well as being jailed, he was given a 10-year restraining order which prevents him from contacting the victims. The order also prohibits him from entering the Isle of Sheppey.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Martin Stevens said: "McDonald blackmailed the victims by making numerous, serious threats of violence and kidnap.

"The victims believed these threats would be carried out which caused them to not only fear for their own lives, but for the lives of their family.

"They attempted to appease him by transferring some money, however McDonald was not content with this and was relentless in his demands, continuing to call them and make further threats throughout the day.

"We work hard to support victims, no matter the type of crime, and his sentence reflects the seriousness of this offence."