An Auckland man sentenced to 350 hours' community work for blackmailing his lawyer says he's glad it's all over.
Paul Desmond Currie, 45, was convicted of one charge of blackmail after he demanded $350,000 to keep quiet about allegations his former lawyer was in a relationship with a prostitute and used methamphetamine.
Currie tried to extort the cash from the lawyer when he lost $200,000 in a divorce settlement.
Speaking to NZPA outside court, Currie said the case had taken over the past four years of his life.
"I'm relieved as at least now I can try to get on with my life," he said.
In the High Court at Auckland today, Justice Graham Lang said he did not want to sentence Currie to home detention as he expected he would sit inside his home "stewing over past events".
Instead he chose a sentence of 350 hours community work and 12 months supervision.
"The seriousness of your conduct could warrant imprisonment. I consider the threat to expose your former lawyer's drug activity was particularly malicious, whether true or otherwise.
"Your involvement with your former lawyer over the past four years would have been a constant thorn in his side.
"A sentence of community work gives you the greatest opportunity to put this matter behind you and get on with your life."
Currie was also ordered not to associate with his former lawyer, whose identity is suppressed.
During sentencing today, the court was told that Currie told his probation officer he wanted to put the matter behind him and get on with his life.
But he had shown no remorse and still saw himself as the victim.
Currie has also made a complaint to the Auckland District Law Society (ADLS) about his former lawyer's conduct.
He requested the notes from the trial in August to be referred to the ADLS.
But Justice Lang refused his request.
"The complaint to the ADLS will not be focused on your actions, but the actions of your former lawyer.
"Given your former lawyer's opposition, I decline to make the trial notes available, but I will reserve leave for the ADLS to ask me for the notes if needed," Justice Lang said.
Currie was at a low ebb after his marriage break-up and he was also declared bankrupt, shortly before he made the allegations, the judge said.
He became somewhat obsessed that the lawyer had let him down.
Even the advocate he hired to help him with his case against his former lawyer said Currie was "an emotional shipwreck".
