AN IRVINE man who threatened to spread allegations about another throughout the community awaits his fate after admitting the £6,000 extortion plot.

Barry Gibson, 41, pleaded guilty to sending written correspondence attempting to extort money with the intention of menacing the complainer and putting them in state of fear and alarm.

Court papers state he committed the offence at an address in Craig View, Springside, between July 22 and July 29 last year.

Gibson, now of Harbour Street, Irvine, threatened the man that he would make allegations against him to members of his local community and his employer unless he paid him £6,000.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to force him to give him the money through the extortion plot when he appeared in Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this week [Thursday, October 13].

Sentencing was deferred for a criminal justice social work report and restriction of liberty order assesment.

Gibson, who was represented by Simon Brown of Matthew Brown Solicitors, will return for sentencing at a later date.

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