by Keith Hunt

A controlling married businessman waged harassment campaigns against two women he had affairs with and tried to blackmail one by threatening to post explicit photos of her on a social network site.

Mohinder “Bas” Basra, who runs a Gravesend letting agency, demanded £5,000 from his victim within 24 hours, telling her he would break her and her mother’s legs if she did not pay.

The 37-year-old father, of Rochester Crescent, Hoo, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after Judge Charles Byers told him: “Over a period of almost two years you subjected a young woman who you purported to love to a series of controlling and bullying attacks.

“She would never have been able to put it to one side. You continued in that vein and ultimately resorted to one of the most unpleasant crimes, namely blackmail, seeking £5,000 or you would break her legs or the legs of her mother and disclose to the world intimate pictures which should have remained private between you.

“It is the type of behaviour that will cause your victims long-term misery.”

Basra, who once ran the D:Ream Bar in Gravesend, admitted blackmail, breaching a non-molestation order and two harassment offences.

He denied conspiracy to commit arson and the prosecution offered no evidence on the charge.

Maidstone Crown Court was told Basra, whose wife is a bank manager, had a relationship with the woman in her early 20s he was to blackmail after employing her at Red Apple Properties.

Maidstone Crown Court, where Basra was jailed

He boasted about buying an Aston Martin car and “flashed” money at her. She realised he was lying about his marriage.

Prosecutor Andrew Espley said about a month into the relationship Basra became controlling, aggressive and jealous.

After the woman stopped working for him he sent her bullying text messages and the demand for £5,000. He told her he would put intimate photos of her on Facebook and tag her mother so that she saw them.

When he posted one tamer picture of her topless with her arm covering her breasts and one of her in a bra, she realised it was not an empty threat.

"this man was a dangerous individual who went on a lengthy mission to make the lives of his victims a real misery" – det sgt rik spicer

He texted: “You want to ---- with Bas. Lol. Think twice...You borrowed, you pay or all the town will have your photos.” He added: “You forget I own Kent Police.”

The woman reported the matter to the police but Basra persuaded her to make a retraction. He sat outside her home in a new white Mercedes playing loud music.

Basra also sent a wreath to her home with RIP on it. Immediately after she obtained a non-molestation order against him in September last year, he posted online film of a woman performing a sex act and pretended it was her.

He continued to harass her while she was working for another firm and a panic alarm was installed at her new home.

The judge imposed restraining orders banning Basra from going within 100 yards of the homes and work places of his two victims.

Investigating officer Det Sgt Rik Spicer, said: “This man was a dangerous individual who went on a lengthy mission to make the lives of his victims a real misery.

"I’m pleased that we have been able to give them a sense of justice and a reprieve from the continued bullying by Basra.

“I would like to praise the victims in this case for the bravery they have shown in coming forward and then having to relive what happened to them.

“This successful outcome for the victims is the culmination of a thorough investigation by Kent Police and we will continue to use all available tools to support victims in these cases and do our utmost to bring them to justice.”