US London Embassy Worker In 'Sextortion Plot'

A State Department employee is accused of hacking the emails of young American women and blackmailing them with compromising photos, all from his computer at the US Embassy in London.

Michael Ford threatened to post the sexually explicit images online unless the women complied with his demands, such as shooting videos of other women undressing, prosecutors say.

The US citizen faces charges including cyberstalking and making interstate threats, according to a federal complaint filed in Atlanta, Georgia.

Authorities detained him last week at Atlanta's airport as he prepared to board a flight back to London after visiting relatives.

Ford, who was living in South Croydon, moved to the UK in 2005 and began working at the embassy in 2009, according to the affidavit.

It is not clear what his role is at the embassy.

He allegedly posed as a Google employee in one instance to obtain a victim's email password.

In an email to an 18-year-old Kentucky woman, he allegedly presented the victim with compromising photos of her and wrote: "Finally, I found you! What do you think? Nice a**!"

When she asked where he found the images, he replied: "I'm a wizard, I have lots. Do you like it? :)."

According to the documents, she threatened to tell police and he responded: "You threaten me again and I send it out. Would you like that."

He allegedly wrote: "I want you to record videos of sexy girls changing.

"In gyms, clothing stores, pools... You do that, and I disappear."

After she pleaded with him to leave her alone, he allegedly wrote back: "OK, time's up.

"Everything I have will be posted online and sent to your friends.

"Pictures, name, phone number, home address ... I gave you a chance and you blew it!"

Others emails sent to a 22-year-old woman threatened to post sexually explicit photos of her.

Ford even allegedly emailed the woman's parents requesting information about their daughter.

A search of his computer at the embassy found some 250 email addresses linked to the investigation.

Some of the addresses are said to be associated with colleges such as the University of Michigan.

Ford is in custody pending a court appearance in in Atlanta on 1 June.