A man who was blackmailed by another man after he found out he abused a young boy, ironically cannot now be identified - because the law protects victims of blackmail.

John Maxwell, also known as Ian Maxwell, 81, contacted the man and told him that national newspapers might be prepared to pay £100,000 to the victim for the story.

He sent text messages to the man demanding £40,000 not to go to the police and has been jailed for three and a half years after being found guilty by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court.

But in an ironic twist, Maxwell's actions in turn actually caused the victim to confess his previous crimes to the police and he was jailed for a year at Sheffield Crown Court after admitting four offences of indecent assault against a boy in Grimsby - and he cannot be named because of legal restrictions protecting blackmail victims.

His barrister, Nick Worsley, told the court last year: "Blackmail demands were made persistently to this defendant.

"The defendant went in to the police station, saying there had been an allegation of blackmail.

"He went in and was completely honest with the police."

Judge Paul Watson QC said: "He made very full, frank, candid admissions to what happened."

He told the man, who has since been released: "You brought these matters yourself to the attention of the police as the result of you being the victim of an attempt to blackmail you to the sum of £40,000.

Judge Paul Watson QC

"You went to the police station and, in a voluntary interview, made comprehensive, candid and detailed admissions to what you could remember of the conduct for which you were being blackmailed.

"These matters only came to light by reason of your attendance at the police station and the full admissions you made."

It was not known whether the blackmailer would have gone to the police about the indecent assaults if the man had refused to pay the £40,000, added Judge Watson.

He said: "I regard blackmail as a nasty, insidious and cowardly crime."