A ST IVES man has appeared in court accused of blackmailing and stalking the daughter of an American billionaire, who he was married to.

James Casbolt, 37, of Windsor Terrace, is accused of stalking Haley Meijer and causing alarm or distress.

He is accused of sending mass e-mails containing photographs and videos to family and friends and posting them on the internet for public viewing, between October last year and July.

It is also alleged that Casbolt blackmailed Ms Meijer on February 28 with a view to make a gain for himself or another with intent to cause loss to another made an unwarranted demand to her with menaces.

Casbolt was given bail with conditions not to contact Ms Meijer or to post anything about the Meijer family on the internet or any other public medium.

He was also made the subject of conditions to surrender his passport to Camborne police station within 24 hours and not to apply for a further passport.

Ms Meijer’s father is Hank Meijer, co-chairman of US hypermarket chain Meijers, one of the largest private companies in the US.

Casbolt is due to appear before the court for a plea and case management hearing, when he will be expected to enter his plea, on November 21.