Tearful Boston man admits threatening to release intimate pictures of woman unless she gave into his repeated requests for sex

A man who threatened to release intimate pictures of a woman unless she had sex with him sobbed as he admitted to the offence.

Tearful Zapryan Petrov told his victim he would ‘upload’ the compromising photos to the internet so her friends would see them unless she gave in to his demands.

Speaking through a Bulgarian interpreter, the 46-year-old pleaded guilty to threatening to share photographs of a person in an intimate state on October 14 last year when he appeared in court on Monday (February 3).

Petrov, of Laughton Road, Boston, had taken the images without the victim’s knowledge during consensual intercourse, but later attempted to release them after further requests for sex were rebuffed.

Prosecutor Tosin Abioye told the court the defendant and victim - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - had known each other ‘loosely’ but recently exchanged telephone numbers.

“After this the defendant started asking the victim to have sex, which she initially refused,” Ms Abioye told Boston magistrates.

“In September 2024 the victim saw a spin bike for sale and told the defendant she wanted to buy it and asked the defendant if he would help her collect it.

“He said he would help collect the bike if she had sex with him.”

The victim and defendant then had ‘consensual sex’ in a hotel room, the court was told.

“The defendant took photos of the victim there that she was unaware of,” Ms Abioye added.

“He didn’t help her collect the spin bike but later on sent her money to help her buy the spin bike.

“Then, over texts, the defendant asked her to have sex again and again.

“She refuses and he responds by sending a number of images taken in the hotel room of them having sex. Those images were of a compromising nature.”

Messages sent by Petrov to the victim were then read out by the prosecution.

One stated: “If you don’t let me f*** you I’ll upload them and show your friends.”

Another added: “If you let me f*** you I will delete them. I also have videos.”

Magistrates were also told how this caused ‘serious stress and alarm’ to the victim.

Defending Petrov, Phillipa Chatterton said her client deserved credit for entering an early guilty plea and having no previous convictions.

The case was adjourned to allow the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report.

Petrov will be sentenced at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on February 26.

He was released on unconditional bail.