A BOLTON prostitute who threatened to expose "embarrassing" photographs of one of her customers unless he provided her with money was jailed for 12 months at Bolton Crown Court. Julie Gilligan, 31, of Gilnow Grove, Bolton, pleaded guilty to blackmail when she appeared yesterday. Judith McCullough, prosecuting, said Gilligan had a long-standing business arrangement to provide sexual services to a 52-year-old man, who was single and lived with his elderly mother.

She began to "borrow" money off the man and, in one case, he paid over money to her which he had obtained from a bank loan intended for double glazing.

When he ran out of money, she threatened that she would show "embarrassing photographs" of him and her together to his employers and to his mother.

He went to the police, who set up a trap. Two officers saw and heard Gilligan repeat the demands and threats, Miss McCullough said.

She added that police officers had been unable to find any incriminating photographs of the man among Gilligan's possessions.

Angelina Dennett, defending, said that it was only in the latter stages of a four year relationship that Gilligan started to press for money, above payment for her services.

Gilligan needed the cash to pay for drugs, she said.

Judge Michael Lever, QC, said Gilligan had obtained £10,000 from the man and had "bled him dry".

He said history was full of cases of infatuated men willingly doing reckless things and acceding to wild requests by women.

"Blackmail is another matter. You decided to turn the screw in the nastiest possible way", he said.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.