AN alleged blackmailer has denied trying to extort £5,000 out of a call girl’s client by threatening to expose his actions.

Both Carl Wesley Mason and self-confessed escort girl Emma Anne Akers deny taking money from her visitors and then immediately throwing them out of his house.

They were arrested after a businessman known only as “Mr Brown” went to police alleging that the couple said they would send photos of him giving money to her unless he handed over £5,000.

He claimed Mason told him over the phone: “I’m a businessman, you’re a businessman, I am sure we can do business.” Mason denies saying this or mentioning £5,000 and claims he was only interested in being a Good Samaritan and returning the Blackberry “Mr Brown” had accidentally left at his house. The Blackberry has never been recovered.

Mason, 31, and Akers, 23, then of Millgarth House, Harcourt Street, Heworth, deny blackmail and conspiracy to steal and Mason denies two charges of assault.

Both deny having photos of “Mr Brown”.

Mason claimed in evidence he “cared” for Akers and was aware she had been a prostitute before they met up through Facebook, but that she now only sold companionship. He would not have wanted her as a girlfriend if she was sleeping with other men.

In a two-week period ten men visited her at his house. Two clients, including “Mr Brown” asked sexual favours she was not prepared to grant and at her request he “guided” them out of the house. He denied assaulting either though both he and Akers say he used a spray on a client in self-defence. Akers claimed Mason “controlled” her, a claim he denies that he took much of her sex earnings and that he knew she sold sex.

Mason suggested it would be easier to take her clients’ money and “kick them out” without her sleeping with them. She objected because she didn’t want to ruin her escort-girl reputation.

She alleged she asked both men to leave because they wanted unprotected sex and she didn’t. She denied taking part in the phone call that allegedly started the blackmail or knowing anything about it.

The trial continues.