‘Not a well‑thought‑out crime:’ Kootenay man convicted of extortion used name, cell number

A 51-year-old Kootenay man who included his name and phone number in threatening emails he sent in an attempt to extort $20,000 from his ex-wife has managed to avoid being sent to jail.

According to an Oct. 6 BC Supreme Court decision, Cranbrook resident Cole Alan Daniel Radau didn’t email his ex-wife demanding the money because a previous court order barred him from contacting her, so instead, he sent the emails to his ex-wife’s niece, who is a lawyer. She immediately called the RCMP.

“To say that this was not a well‑thought‑out crime is an understatement,” BC Supreme Court Justice Lindsay Lyster said in the decision.

The judge noted it was an “odd concern” to comply with the no-contact court order his ex-wife had, but then send an email committing extortion.

Judge Lyster also commented that it was hard to imagine a person more likely to immediately contact the RCMP than a lawyer.

The decision said that in June 2023, after recently getting out of jail for assaulting his ex-wife, Radau emailed his ex-wife’s niece, demanding $20,000 from his ex. He said he had a nude video of a woman and would share it online if the money wasn’t paid.

The decision didn’t say exactly who the woman was, but she appeared to have been a family member who house-sat for him in 2019.

Radau had set up cameras to watch his dogs when he was out, and claimed the device had also recorded the house sitter naked.

He sent three emails, all including his name, demanding the money.

“I have no problem going to jail… if I am arrested, it does not matter,” one email said. In another email, he threatened to kill himself if the money wasn’t paid.

He described the money as a divorce settlement, saying he wanted the money he was promised.

The decision said Radau had only just gotten out of prison after being convicted of slashing his ex-wife with a knife. Hours after being released on bail, he returned to his ex-wife’s home and was re-arrested.

“While in custody on those charges, Mr. Radau was volatile, aggressive, and damaged the cells in which he was held,” the Justice said.

He later pleaded guilty to the extortion charge and admitted that no video existed.

The decision saud Radau has multiple mental health issues, which were going untreated at the time.

“Mr. Radau was, as the time of the sentencing hearing in July 2025, in a much better place than at the time he committed this offence. He is now living in an apartment and just bought a car,” the judge said.

He expressed regret and apologized for his actions telling the court he made a “very, very poor decision” and was desperately depressed at the time and under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“I accept that Mr. Radau regrets his actions. That said, his expressions of regret and remorse are undercut to some extent by his continuing focus on how his actions have harmed him. This was exemplified in his statements in court about the hardships he allegedly suffered while he was in jail awaiting trial,” the judge said. “Mr. Radau’s inability to take full responsibility for his actions and his focus on how he has been harmed, reduces, but does not eliminate, the mitigating impact of his expressions of regret.”

Crown prosecutors argued he should spend 18 months to two years behind bars, while the defence argued for two years of house arrest, pointing out Radau had spent two years on probation without any breaches.

Judge Lyster settled on two years of house arrest, which for the first 12 months would be 24/7, although he would be allowed to go to work. For the second year, Radau would be under a nighttime curfew. He was also ordered to undergo treatment.

“I just want to say, Mr. Radau, that I think that you should consider yourself fortunate that, given the gravity of your offence and your related criminal record, the court has given you the opportunity to serve your sentence in the community,” the judge said. “Any breach of the conditions I have imposed… is likely to lead to you serving the remainder of your sentence in jail.”