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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man City player admits blackmail | Man City player admits blackmail |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A former Manchester City youth player has admitted blackmailing a top Premiership footballer over sexual images. | A former Manchester City youth player has admitted blackmailing a top Premiership footballer over sexual images. |
| Goalkeeper Ashley Timms, 22, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, admitted a charge of making unwarranted demands with menaces. | Goalkeeper Ashley Timms, 22, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, admitted a charge of making unwarranted demands with menaces. |
| He admitted blackmailing the player, who cannot be named for legal reasons, between March 1 and April 3 this year. | |
| Judge Andrew Gilbart QC warned Timms that a prison sentence was inevitable. | Judge Andrew Gilbart QC warned Timms that a prison sentence was inevitable. |
| He had previously pleaded not guilty to demanding £15,000 from the player. | |
| 'Series of threats' | |
| Judge Gilbart said: "This case carries inevitably a prison sentence, no doubt about it. | |
| "I am going to grant him bail but it must be on the clear understanding what the sentence will be." | |
| Manchester Crown Court heard how the blackmail victim, known only as Witness A, received a number of threats over the sexual images. | |
| David Friesner, prosecuting, said: "There was a long protracted series of text messages that culminated in the offence. | |
| "It is a series of messages followed by a series of threats." | |
| The Manchester-born goalkeeper, who is currently without a club was bailed until 5 September for sentencing. | The Manchester-born goalkeeper, who is currently without a club was bailed until 5 September for sentencing. |
| He played with Manchester City's under-19 side and had spells at Shrewsbury Town and Accrington Stanley as well as a number of non-league clubs. | He played with Manchester City's under-19 side and had spells at Shrewsbury Town and Accrington Stanley as well as a number of non-league clubs. |
| He has also had trials at Norwich City, Bolton Wanderers, Fulham, Oldham and Macclesfield. | He has also had trials at Norwich City, Bolton Wanderers, Fulham, Oldham and Macclesfield. |
| He joined Cambridge City in January on non-contract terms but has since left. | He joined Cambridge City in January on non-contract terms but has since left. |