An Italian priest was blackmailed after paying for sex, police said Wednesday.

The priest reportedly admitted answering a woman's sex ad in a Sicilian paper two years ago and having sex ''several'' times with her since then.

He claims the woman first asked him for 8,000 euros to keep quiet about the sessions and recently upped her demand to 20,000, saying she had photos of them having sex together.

Police have arrested the woman, 40, who has denied the charges.

The pair have not been identified.