Former Australian test cricketer Craig McDermott says he has experienced the "worst couple of days in my life" after being caught up in a sex-tape extortion case.

A court last week heard the former fast bowler was forced to hand over more than $50,000 to an alleged extortionist to stop home movies of him having sex with his wife from being released on the internet.

Officers allege a video camera and "a number of home movies" were stolen from McDermott's luxury cruiser in late 2003 while it was being detailed at a Gold Coast marina.

Gold Coast boat detailer Peter Josef Vigan, 36, faced Southport Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with eight counts of demanding property, benefit or services with threats.

McDermott did not report the theft, but in January he allegedly received a text message from a man claiming to have home movie that showed him and his wife Ann-Maree "engaging in intimate activities".

Vigan allegedly contacted McDermott eight times over the next nine months, instructing him to leave $5,000 and $10,000 payments at various Gold Coast shopping centres.

"The text message came and Ann-Maree said `What is that text message?' and I said `Look, I just can't hide this any longer sweetheart'," McDermott said.

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