The man accused of blackmailing media tycoon John de Mol and his television presenter sister Linda did not want the money for himself, his lawyer told tv talk show Pauw on Wednesday night.

Paul Emmelot told the programme his client had seen a great deal of suffering in the world and decided to do something about it.

The 70-year-old Dirk M was arrested on December 3 for sending a number of letters demanding money to the De Mol family. He was released last week because he is suffering from dementia. A court in Utrecht ruled his health had deteriorated sharply since his arrest and that his brain function would become worse if he had to remain in custody pending the trial.

According to Emmelot, M is suffering from a severe and specific form of dementia ‘which you do not immediately notice’. ‘You can hold a good conversation with him and he now understands what he has done, to the De Mol family and also to his own family which knew nothing about his actions. He also knows he has dementia,’ the lawyer said.

Emmelot said M has a complicated form of dementia which causes compulsive behaviour. M did not recognise himself in the photofit image released by the police, but when he did realise the police were on to him, he continued sending blackmail letters, even asking for more money.

However, neurologist Philp Scheltens said at the time of M’s release that the sudden dementia diagnosis is questionable. ‘This is a very deliberate action by someone who makes a plan and prepares it down to the smallest detail,’ he said. ‘That is almost irreconcilable with dementia.’

M is due in court on June 18.