Guilty: blackmailer Justin Williams.

The Herald Sun reports that Williams had observed his victim enter a toilet block at Merrimu Reserve, near Melton, last November. He took the man’s phone number down from his work van and then contacted him demanding money.

Williams threatened that if he did not receive $1500 from the man within 40 minutes of the call, that he had photos and would ‘cause problems’.

The man immediately drove to a nearby police station, where he admitted he had been engaging in sexual activity in the toilet.

Williams reportedly told the police he had blackmailed the man ‘because he was disturbed by what he saw’ and wanted to teach the ‘perverts’ a lesson.

Williams’ lawyer, Maitland Lincoln, told the court that Williams was a father who was motivated by his desire to protect children who may have walked into the toilets, and that he had attempted the blackmail the man as punishment.

“Police advise men who find themselves in a similar situation to contact their local police,” Victoria Police Media Officer, Kendra Jackson, told MCV.

“Alternatively, if they are not comfortable approaching their local police, they may contact the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer for their local area, who can provide advice to them in such situations. Every effort to protect the victim’s identity shall be made.”

Last year’s Melbourne Gay Community Periodic Survey found fewer than 7 per cent of respondents used beats in the past year, down from 11 per cent in 2002.

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