Jimmy Featherstone, who was dubbed Hull’s ‘Ken Doll’ because of his fondness for plastic surgery and fake tan, used online dating apps to meet his victims, a court heard
Wannabe reality TV star Jimmy Featherstone – nicknamed “Hull’s Ken Doll” – repeatedly blackmailed two men by making menacing “sextortion” demands for money and threatening to ruin their lives.
The flamboyant cosmetic surgery fan, also known for his love of fake tanning, left one of his victims “scared and terrified” as the sinister threats had a “massive impact” on him and his family, Hull Crown Court heard.
Featherstone, 25, of Hessle Road, west Hull, admitted blackmailing one man by making an unwarranted demand for money with menaces between August 17 and 19 last year and, while he was on bail for that offence, blackmailing a second man on January 2 this year.
Jennifer Gatland, prosecuting, said that the first victim had a long-term girlfriend and a young daughter. He joined an online dating site.
He spotted a profile picture “displaying a bottom” and exchanged messages but he later realised that he was talking not to a woman but to a man.
He carried on exchanging messages and sent two pictures, one of his face and the other an intimate image of his genitals. The man received a message calling him by his name and telling him that the person recognised him.
The person – Featherstone – demanded money, knew that he had a girlfriend and threatened to send pictures to his friends and family and distribute them over Facebook.
Featherstone told him to pay £70 and “it would all be over” and he sent his bank details. The man realised that the person was Featherstone and sent £70. He asked whether this would be the end of it.
Featherstone asked for another £40 and this “would be the end of it”. The man sent £40 but, on August 18, he woke up to a Facebook message demanding £80 or he would distribute the pictures.
The man received more Facebook messages asking for more money. He sent another £60 and £40, making a total of £210.
On January 2, the second man received a message from a mobile phone number linked to Featherstone, saying that he “can travel today if you are wanting fun”. The message said that the person – Featherstone – had got a picture of him and the victim was told: “You won’t mess me around. You owe me £80. Think I give a f***. I will just message your lass if I don’t get it.”
Featherstone phoned the man several times and the man received a PayPal request for £50 with a link. The man did not know Featherstone but he had been using the Grindr app. No money changed hands with Featherstone.
The first man had been left “scared and terrified” and he “had some really dark thoughts”. He felt “angry and guilty” and had time off work because of his mental state and anxiety. “I was terrified of losing my family,” he said.
His girlfriend had been supportive but he was scared of the impact that the blackmail would have on his relationship. “This situation has had a massive impact on us,” he said.
“I felt really angry towards Featherstone over the blackmail. He has taken advantage and demanded money, which is a really low thing to do. He has contacted my partner. She is now scared to answer the phone and leave the house.”
The second man was really worried about the impact of the blackmail on his job. “It’s affecting my mental health because of this worrying,” he said.
Featherstone had convictions for 12 previous offences, including four of breaching a restraining order in January 2021, stalking and breaching a non-molestation order in May 2020 and breaching a non-molestation order in January 2020.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that the offences seemed to be “very mean” and with “very little thought for the consequences” but Featherstone was very far from that. He made poor decisions and could not control his emotions. He acted impulsively. He had been given “great opportunities” with offers of reality TV and social media deals but he had “derailed” any opportunities presented to him.
Featherstone had taken cocaine and turned to drinking. His earlier court appearance for the first blackmail offence had been widely publicised.
“He ended up all over the national news,” said Miss Scott. “He was in all the national newspapers.” Featherstone was taking the first steps to getting his drinking under control. “There does seem to be some light at the end of the tunnel,” said Miss Scott. “His risk can be managed in the community.”
Judge Tahir Khan KC told Featherstone: “Although you have been in bother in the past, it was some time ago. I have no doubt at all that immediate custody will be devastating for you.
“You behaved very badly in blackmailing the victims but you had the good sense to plead guilty at the first opportunity and that makes all the difference. Rather than send you into custody, the most constructive way of dealing with you is by way of punishment within the community.”
Featherstone was given a 20-month suspended prison sentence, six months’ drug rehabilitation and 15 days’ rehabilitation. He was given a three-year restraining order relating to the first blackmail victim.
“If you put one foot wrong, don’t do the work to the standard that’s required or you don’t do it all, you will come back before the Crown Court,” said Judge Khan.
Featherstone, known for his colourful persona, appeared on the TV programme Hooked On The Look, which featured the world of cosmetic surgery. He previously appeared on ITV’s This Morning, alongside Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, where he discussed his addiction to fake tanning, including the use of tanning injections.
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