Video captured the moment a sex worker arrived at a man’s family home to deliver a handwritten blackmail letter demanding tens of thousands of pounds.
Monika Konopska, 43, knocked on the door of the victim’s property and threatened to do ‘serious damage to his life’ – claiming she had spoken to his neighbours.
In footage of the encounter, filmed in May 2024, Konopska can be seen clutching the chilling note, donning bleach-blonde hair and a pair of dark-rimmed glasses.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard the criminal – believed to be from Poland – had left bank details bearing her real name with two of her victims, which led to her being caught.
Recorder Suki Dhadda told Konopska she should be ‘ashamed’ of her actions – following her contact with two men she found on an adult website, neither of whom she had met before
The eastern European migrant, who lives in the UK under the EU settlement scheme, has now been jailed for 18 months after admitting to blackmail and attempted blackmail.
The court heard she posed as a woman called ‘Serena’ when contacting her first victim, who was looking for ‘companionship’, in October 2024.
Prosecutor Mark Halsey said: ‘The defendant requested £40 in petrol money from the first victim.
‘Half an hour later, by telephone then on WhatsApp, she demanded £1,000, and threatened to “cause a scene” if not paid.’
Mr Halsey said Konopska sent the victim photos from Facebook, including some showing his adult children.
Monika Konopska, 43, knocked on the door of the victim’s property and threatened to do ‘serious damage to his life’ – claiming she had spoken to his neighbours
In footage of the encounter, filmed in May 2024, Konopska can be seen clutching the chilling note, donning bleach-blonde hair and a pair of dark-rimmed glasses
The court heard the victim, who cannot be named, had two children and had been single for 27 years.
‘He sent £1,000, believing and hoping that would be the end of the matter,’ Mr Halsey said.
However, Konopska again messaged the victim just a few weeks later.
‘The defendant requested a further £700,’ Mr Halsey added.
‘There were no threats made that time. The money was not paid.’
In May 2024, Konopska sent the victim a photo of the sign for the street he lived on, saying she was there and had ‘spoken with neighbours’.
Mr Halsey said: ‘About five minutes later, [the victim] heard heavy knocking on the front door.’
The court heard the victim hid upstairs, terrified, and later found a handwritten note demanding a further £1,000.
After asking what she wanted, Konopska replied – saying that if he paid up, all ‘personal data’ she had on him would be deleted.
The victim again paid £1,000 out of fear.
But in June, Konopska returned once again – sending further threatening messages, which read: ‘I can do serious damage in your life and destroy your reputation.
‘If you don’t want me to come to your work or your house, make a payment to this bank account to avoid further consequence.’
Now posing as ‘Bianca’, she also told him the girl working previously had been ‘too soft’, telling him she knew his home address as well as details about his work and family.
Monika Konopska was jailed for 18 months, with a judge telling her she would serve at least half her sentence in custody before being released on licence
‘Just make that payment and we are done with you,’ she told him. ‘You have until 3pm.’
The victim paid Konopska a further £300.
The second victim, Mr Halsey explained, had used adultwork.com like the first.
In June 2024, he received messages, including Konopska’s bank details.
‘[Konopska] threatened to do serious damage to his life, finishing by saying he had until 3pm,’ Mr Halsey said, adding that she’d talked about his ‘routine’ and how she knew he works from home.
The second victim did not respond and received more messages later in the month, asking if he was ‘looking forward to consequences’.
Mr Halsey continued: ‘He thought: ‘This is serious’. He feared returning home, not knowing what he was going to find.
‘He reported the messages to the police.’
Defending, Rebecca Malczewski told the court Konopska would lose her job as a carer as a result of her convictions, adding that she had also split from her long-term partner.
She said Konopska had turned to sex work for the first time in her life after losing a previous job, in a moment of ‘desperation’.
‘Ms Konopska feels deep shame and remorse for her actions,’ Ms Malczewski said.
‘She considers these offences the biggest mistakes of her life.’
Recorder Dhadda said the two victims in the case had alluded to the ‘fear’ and ‘distress’ caused by Konopska’s actions.
‘The first [victim] had been single for 27 years and had two adult children,’ she said. ‘He wanted companionship.
‘He made contact with someone he thought was called Serena.
‘He sent £40 to cover the cost of her petrol. Serena sent a series of messages, including a picture of his house and images from his social media account.
‘You sent messages informing him you knew where he worked. He was frightened by these messages and sent the money.
‘He was told that would be the end, but it was not.
‘The following year, when he thought he could put all of this behind him, he received a message from Bianca.
‘This was unsophisticated. You provided your name and bank details.
‘When asked who [those demanding money] were, you responded by saying: “Romanians”.
‘[The first victim] was stressed and worried and scared for his life. In total, you took £2,300 from him.
‘[The second victim] was threatened with serious damage to his life and his reputation destroyed.
‘He was concerned [you] knew where he lived and where he worked. He reported the matter to police.
‘You were interviewed and said it was all part of a role play [with the first victim], as he was someone you knew. You had never met him.
‘In relation to the second victim, you said [the messages] were sent to the wrong person.
‘This type of offending is deplorable. You should be ashamed.
‘It is very clear [the victims] were caused considerable stress and anxiety.
‘The offence you have been convicted of is so serious, only a term of immediate imprisonment is justified.’
Ms Dhadda jailed Konopska for 18 months, telling her she would serve at least half her sentence in custody before being released on licence.
The court also heard that, though Konopska has settled status in the UK, a custodial impact could impact this status upon her release.
