A jealous mum has been jailed after blackmailing her ex-partner into handing over £30,000 to pay for their newborn son - who didn't exist.

Chelsea Roberts, 26, said she would tell her ex-partner's new girlfriend and parents about their 'on/off relationship' and love child if he didn't fork out thousands of pounds for the 'child' they had together.

But Hull Crown Court heard Roberts had lied about the pregnancy and told the ex their fictitious son, who she named Jax, was poorly in hospital, put up for adoption and then later died.

When picture requests were denied, the man began to get suspicious but in a bid to make Roberts go away, he continued to hand over cash and take out loans.

Chelsea Roberts, 26, said she would tell her ex-partner's new girlfriend and parents about their 'on/off relationship' and love child if he didn't fork out thousands of pounds for the 'child' they had together (stock photo)

The court also heard Roberts had threatened to go to the police and claim he raped her unless he sent her more money.

Prosecutor Richard Thompson said the complainant and the defendant had ended a previous pregnancy, but Roberts had initially wanted £650 for a second abortion after claiming to be pregnant again.

He told the court on Friday: 'The complainant says that in that time he put on three stone with comfort eating.

'He said that he did not want to wake up to his phone being bombarded with a serious of texts and missed calls.

'He now has a son with his new partner and feels devastated that the money should be spent on his actual son who he has now.

'It was money that he had saved up since he was aged 17 and could have gone towards a deposit for a house.

Roberts, of Wingfield Road, east Hull, pleaded guilty to a single charge of blackmail at an earlier hearing

'It later transpired there was actually no baby at all and the complainant has described the entire situation and period of time, which was just a little over a year, as the worst of his life.'

The court heard the blackmail victim's partner had received 'weird' messages alerting the complainant to Roberts' intentions that she would carry out the threats.

Roberts and the man had cut ties in summer 2016, which, the court heard, had caused her to 'feel upset, jealous and rejected'.

She was soon caught in a 'tissue of lies', according to defence barristers.

Following the course of the blackmail, she had even claimed the child had died due to birthing complications after being handed over to new adoptive parents.

But this was just a tale of fantasy, the court heard on Friday morning.

Roberts had wanted thousands of pounds for the fictional child's funeral and then promised the victim he would get the money back.

She had even written out cheques to the complainant, but told him not to cash then otherwise they would bounce.

Charlotte Baines, defending, told the court Roberts had a series of mental health problems and the court proceedings had worsened her mental well-being.

She said: 'She has two children with another child on the way.

Jailing Roberts for four months at Hull Crown Court, Judge Thackray told her: 'It was not just the simple financial impact to the complainant, but the misery and trauma'

'She is pregnant now and it is a high risk birth with complications with pre-eclampsia.

'The defendant is thoroughly disgusted and ashamed with what she has done.

'She said this was only time she could get away with this and took the opportunity, saying that the money was too good and got used to it being an easy way to get money.'

Roberts, of Wingfield Road, east Hull, pleaded guilty to a single charge of blackmail at an earlier hearing.

Judge John Thackray, QC, said he had thought long and hard leaving the defendant's children without a mother, but her offending was described 'the ugliest in the criminal justice system'.

Jailing Roberts for four months, Judge Thackray told her: 'It was not just the simple financial impact to the complainant, but the misery and trauma.

'In summer 2016, your relationship with the complainant was fading and he had a new partner.

'You then told him you were pregnant and he was the father of that child and made threats that you would tell his parents and his new partner.

'You also made a false rape allegation unless money was had.

'I am sentencing you as a single parent, but a case of blackmail is one of the ugliest offences in the criminals justice system.

'It is, in reality, a crime met by the public with loathing and contempt.

'It is a very nasty offence and a very serious view of it has to be taken.'