A 41-year-old man who was mistakenly sent video footage not intended for his eyes lasciviously took advantage of the situation by trying to blackmail the woman into giving him sexual favours.

Mahmoud Razouk, from Syria, was arraigned before Magistrate Ian Farrugia this morning and charged with blackmailing the victim, harassing her and threatening her.

There was talk of cakes in the courtroom as the magistrate and prosecuting officer John Spiteri attempted to delicately outline the incident.

"Let's say that a cake which was intended for another person was mistakenly offered to the accused and he helped himself to it," the magistrate said.

"He asked for a second cake," Insp. Spiteri interjected.

The magistrate explained that he was informed that a woman had meant to send a private video to her husband but instead ended up sending it to the accused by mistake. This served to "whet his appetite" and he began to chat with her in an effort to coerce her into having sexual contact with him in exchange for him not circulating the footage.

The court heard how the accused had fully cooperated with the police. A guilty plea was entered.

The accused was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for three years. A protection order was also issued in favour of the woman.

The court explained the import of the sentence and chided the accused for his behaviour.

"I understand you won't be approaching the woman again. This was a crazed adventure," Magistrate Farrugia said as the accused nodded fervently.

The footage and the accused's computer will be destroyed.

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