A stalker who coerced a man into paying her £38,000 by threatening to expose their affair has been spared jail.

Lisa Monaghan, 34, of Nideggen Close, Thatcham, was handed a suspended sentence at Reading Crown Court today (May 16).

The court heard that Monaghan engaged in a years-long affair with a man, during which she bombarded him with emails threatening to tell his family, friends and employer about the relationship.

Matters came to a head in May 2020, when the man transferred £15,000 to Monaghan's bank account in a bid to prevent her from exposing the affair.

But, even after this, the defendant continued with her threats, sending the man dozens of further emails demanding that he stay in touch with her.

Prosecuting barrister Rhiannon Sadler said: "She continued to be abusive ... berating him for having not contacted her on her birthday."

Monaghan met her victim in 2015.

Mrs Sadler stated: "It became apparent that the victim was in another relationship, and the defendant appeared to become upset.

"There were various exchanges with the victim at that stage, which resulted in him paying money to this defendant."

A number of messages sent by Monaghan to the man were read out in court.

In one of these, the defendant told her victim: 'Every single person in your life will find out everything.'

Sentencing Monaghan, Judge Kirsty Real said that the emails sent to her lover were largely incoherent.

She said: "It's unclear from them what you planned. It all comes across rather rambling, but sinister."

Nevertheless, the court heard that the defendant was able to extract huge sums of money from the victim.

In total, the man forked over £38,000 over a period of four years.

The stalking only came to an end in 2020, when the victim reported Monaghan to police.

Even then, Judge Real said that the man continues to fear for his safety, going so far as to install CCTV cameras at home.

Defence barrister David Dainty said the stalking came on the back of an intense relationship, and that Monaghan's behaviour - while criminal - was a 'release' from her stressful home life.

Mr Dainty said: "She was at home, caring for her son. There was a lot of uncertainty going on, and this was her release."

He added: "Those who know Lisa Monaghan speak to her kindness, and her ability as a mother."

Monaghan pleaded guilty to a charge of stalking.

In court, Judge Real acknowledged that this early admission is the only reason the defendant has not been immediately jailed.

Instead, she has been handed a prison sentence of two years and four months, suspended for 18 months.

She will have to complete up to 30 days of rehabilitation activities.

In addition, the judge served Monaghan a restraining order, prohibiting her from contacting the victim.