OFF THE WIRE
The District Court has been told two men blackmailed over protection received in prison have left South Australia and are too afraid to return.
The court heard Jason Lee Kingston, 34, agreed to protect one of the men in jail for $30,000 but later upped the price to $100,000, threatening to shoot the man and his brother in the head unless they paid.
It was told Travis John Lemm, 30, who was a member of the Finks motorcycle club, also took part in the blackmail and Kingston was motivated to continue with the threats so he too could join the Finks.
Lawyers for the men said their offending was amateurish and started with a legitimate claim that got out of control.
But prosecutor Lucy Boord said the offending was protracted, persistent and overtly threatening.
Kingston and Lemm will be sentenced next month
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/30/3257624.htm
