A BULLY from Lancaster who subjected a man to years of torment has been jailed for five years.

Daniel Michael Casson, 22, of Howgill Avenue, Heysham, was charged with three counts of blackmail after forcing his victim to hand over property while threatening him. He pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court on February 7.

PC Michael Bernhardt, of Lancaster, says the victim was at the same school as Casson, where the torment and bullying' first began - and then continued after the victim left.

"It's a good sentence but does not equate with six years of being bullied and the torment that the victim has suffered," he told the Citizen.

"The victim's life was turned upside-down and the court case was also traumatic, but since the conviction he is getting on with his life. His family say he now has a spring in his step.

"The family is over the moon at the sentence and relieved that the ordeal is finally over."

PC Bernhardt says he hopes that the sentence may give other people the strength to come forward and stand up to bullies.

"I spent a long time discussing with the family the merits of coming forward and making a complaint about Casson, and that if he did not then the consequences of carrying on would be an escalation in the blackmail."

He goes on: " It's important that people who are being bullied and when there are criminal offences involved know that the situation can be sorted out and that they can stand up and be counted with the police by their side every step of the way."