Manawatu man accused of blackmailing Canadian teen

File photo / NZ Herald

A Manawatu man has been charged with blackmail offences after allegedly trying to extort a 16-year-old Canadian girl into performing sexually explicit acts online.

His arrest followed a complaint from the girl from London, Ontario, in May 2013, Canadian police said.

The girl told police she had been communicating with an unknown male online and was convinced to share inappropriate images of herself.

The man then allegedly made attempts to extort the victim into performing sexually explicit acts online, Canadian police said.

However, she refused to co-operate and contacted police.

Canadian police then tracked a suspect down to New Zealand and notified police here.

A search warrant was executed at the suspect's house last month and he was arrested and charged with blackmail offences.

Two young New Zealand female victims were also identified, according to Canadian police.