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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Footballer jailed over blackmail | Footballer jailed over blackmail |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A former Manchester City youth team goalkeeper has been jailed for 20 months for blackmailing a Premier League footballer over sexual images. | A former Manchester City youth team goalkeeper has been jailed for 20 months for blackmailing a Premier League footballer over sexual images. |
| Goalkeeper Ashley Timms, 22, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, admitted making unwarranted demands with menaces on the unnamed player. | Goalkeeper Ashley Timms, 22, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, admitted making unwarranted demands with menaces on the unnamed player. |
| Manchester Crown Court heard the blackmail took place between March and April this year. | Manchester Crown Court heard the blackmail took place between March and April this year. |
| Timms demanded £15,000, threatening to publish the images if he was not paid. | Timms demanded £15,000, threatening to publish the images if he was not paid. |
| Manchester Crown Court heard how the blackmail victim, known only as Witness A, received a number of threats over the sexual images. The abuse of your friendship for simple greed is an aggravating feature Judge Andrew Gilbart | Manchester Crown Court heard how the blackmail victim, known only as Witness A, received a number of threats over the sexual images. The abuse of your friendship for simple greed is an aggravating feature Judge Andrew Gilbart |
| David Friesner, prosecuting, said there was a "long protracted series of text messages that culminated in the offence". | David Friesner, prosecuting, said there was a "long protracted series of text messages that culminated in the offence". |
| Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Gilbart said: "Blackmail always calls for a custodial sentence. | Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Gilbart said: "Blackmail always calls for a custodial sentence. |
| "The abuse of your friendship for simple greed is an aggravating feature. | "The abuse of your friendship for simple greed is an aggravating feature. |
| "This was a calculated attempt to extract money for your own benefit." | "This was a calculated attempt to extract money for your own benefit." |
| House deposit | House deposit |
| David Friesner, prosecuting, told the court Timms and the player were friends. | David Friesner, prosecuting, told the court Timms and the player were friends. |
| He videoed the footballer having sex with a 19-year-old woman last September. | He videoed the footballer having sex with a 19-year-old woman last September. |
| But he became excluded from the footballer's world, and contacted him "out of the blue" in March. | But he became excluded from the footballer's world, and contacted him "out of the blue" in March. |
| The court heard Timms wanted £15,000 to put a deposit on a house and told the player he could "buy" the sex footage and then destroy it. | The court heard Timms wanted £15,000 to put a deposit on a house and told the player he could "buy" the sex footage and then destroy it. |
| The player contacted officials at his club and a meeting was called. | The player contacted officials at his club and a meeting was called. |
| During the meeting, Timms said: "What's it worth? I want thousands." | During the meeting, Timms said: "What's it worth? I want thousands." |
| Footage not recovered | Footage not recovered |
| Timms hinted he could "lose" the phone in a taxi - and the footage might end up on the internet. | Timms hinted he could "lose" the phone in a taxi - and the footage might end up on the internet. |
| Police were called and Timms was arrested in April. | Police were called and Timms was arrested in April. |
| The video footage was never recovered and a laptop computer showed Timms had done searches on "How to sell sex videos". | The video footage was never recovered and a laptop computer showed Timms had done searches on "How to sell sex videos". |
| In a statement, the player said: "It has really made me feel I can't trust anyone and I feel quite insecure and if I meet anyone now, I constantly feel they're after my money." | In a statement, the player said: "It has really made me feel I can't trust anyone and I feel quite insecure and if I meet anyone now, I constantly feel they're after my money." |
| Rob Kearney, mitigating, said Timms was seen as a potential Premiership footballer after signing for Manchester City and lived "the high life". | |
| Timm's career faltered and he is currently without a club. | |
| 'Fantasy life gone' | |
| Mr Kearney said: "The fantasy life he dreamed of was gone. He experienced difficulty accepting that. | |
| "He was hanging on desperately to his dream." | |
| Timms played with Manchester City's under-19 side and had spells at Shrewsbury Town and Accrington Stanley. | Timms played with Manchester City's under-19 side and had spells at Shrewsbury Town and Accrington Stanley. |
| He has also had trials at Norwich City, Bolton Wanderers, Fulham, Oldham Athletic and Macclesfield Town. | He has also had trials at Norwich City, Bolton Wanderers, Fulham, Oldham Athletic and Macclesfield Town. |
| He joined non-league Cambridge City in January on non-contract terms but has now left. |