Explicit Video Controversy
In September 2006, McDermott was caught up in a sex-tape extortion case where he was blackmailed for $65,000 by 38-year-old former employee Peter Josef Vigan in exchange for two sexually explicit videos of McDermott with his wife.
Vigan was charged by Queensland Police with eight counts of extortion and one count each of burglary and theft in relation to the earlier theft of the tapes from McDermott's luxury cruiser. He was released on bail at Southport Magistrates court and has been ordered to report to police three times a week and was due to reappear in court in December 2006. Both of the tapes and $30,000 of the money have been since recovered by police; Vigan spent the remainder of the money on the drug ice.
On 23 January 2009, Vigan pleaded guilty to the charges in Southport District Court; Judge Julie Dick sentenced him to 4½ years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months, also ordering him to pay McDermott restitution of $35,000.
Read more about this topic: Craig McDermott
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