David Letterman extortionist pleads guilty

The man accused of extorting David Letterman has pleaded guilty.

According to TMZ, Robert Halderman admitted to one count of attempted grand larceny in the second degree.

Halderman is to serve six months in jail and five years' probation. He will also undertake 1,000 hours of community service.

"I have great remorse and sincerely apologise to David Letterman and Stephanie Birkitt. I attempted to extort $2m (£1.3m) from David Letterman," he said in the courtroom, describing the plot to expose Letterman's affairs as a "thinly-veiled threat".

Letterman himself has yet to comment.