A BLACKMAILER who targeted businesses he worked with has failed in a challenge against both his convictions and sentence.

David Casqueiro, was found guilty at Worcester Crown Court in December of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception, three counts of blackmail and two counts of perverting the course of justice.

He was jailed for two years.

The 53-year-old argued at London's Court of Appeal that his convictions were "unsafe" and his sentence "manifestly excessive".

Top judges were told that the judge had "brainwashed" the jury against him, undermined his case by laughing at him in court, and ran an "unlawful trial".

But Judge Elgan Edwards, sitting on appeal with Lord Justice Thomas and Mr Justice Sweeney, said Casqueiro's grounds were unarguable and dismissed the appeal.

He also said that Casqueiro, formerley of Ombersley Road, Worcester, could have no complaint against the sentence.

The court heard that Casqueiro, now of Sycamore Road, Brickfields, Worcester, tried to obtain thousands of pounds from businesses in the Midlands by threatening workers with criminal proceedings.

And he also lied to an employer by saying he had a degree, tried to seek damages at an employment tribunal that he was not entitled to, and claimed he should be given £3,000 because he was available for work but had not been given any by an employment agency.

At the time, Casqueiro was actually in police custody.