Eoin Morgan targeted by alleged blackmailer before Australia match

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/22/eoin-morgan-england-blackmail-attempt

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A bizarre blackmail plot involving Eoin Morgan, the team’s captain, has overshadowed England’s World Cup preparations. The England and Wales Cricket Board received a demand for £35,000 from a man threatening to reveal details of a relationship five years ago between the recently installed ODI captain and a Australian woman.

Related: Ian Bell urges England to build momentum against Australia

Morgan, who took over the one-day captaincy from Alastair Cook last month and is well respected by the ECB, was preparing for Friday’s match against Australia in Hobart. There is no question his position will be affected. The ECB informed Scotland Yard of the alleged blackmail bid and police tracked down the individual to Australia within 24 hours.

Paul Downton, the managing director of the ECB, said the board had received two emails within 48 hours from an individual in Australia. “There were references to a relationship Eoin Morgan had five years ago with a single Australian lady,” he said. “It was brief relationship five years ago and what appears to be a fairly deliberate attempt to extort a sum of money from the ECB.

“The individual, who comes from Hobart, demanded that the money be paid before the first ball was played on Friday.”

The man is believed to have threatened to reveal embarrassing details of the affair, including videos. Downton said: “We contacted the Metropolitan police and a brief investigation tracked down this individual. He has now apologised, saying it was not intended to go this far.

“My job is to ensure the players have the optimum opportunity to prepare and play cricket for England both in the Tri-Series matches and the upcoming World Cup. We will not allow anyone to distract the players or the England captain.

“The ECB will not be pressing charges and the matter is now closed. The players will not be saying anything further at this moment.”

In a further twist, a Hobart workplace safety consultant, Nick Emery, contacted a Melbourne newspaper admitting he was the man involved and saying he was in possession of “sexually-based” messages exchanged between his partner and Morgan.

“I have got a fair bit of interesting content regarding Eoin Morgan … there’s sexual content,” he told the Herald Sun. “It’s my partner.”

Emery said he had met with the ECB in Hobart and had settled the matter. He said he had not intended to commit the offence of blackmail. “It’s done. It’s dealt with. I did the wrong thing in the wrong state of mind,” he said. “I was in a very angry and bad head space. Everything is sorted now. They were very understanding. We came to an agreement.”

He said he had come across the messages when his partner backed up her phone on his computer. “It was a stupid mistake on her behalf,” he said. “I knew something went on between them a long time ago.”

The ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, said the England players would “rally round” and all their focus was on the one-day matches and the World Cup.

Morgan, who is in a long term relationship with Tara Ridgway, a law and PR student at Bond University in Australia, was kept informed of the inquiry as it unfolded. Ridgway has tweeted she had met the cricketer three years ago saying: “#luckiestgirlintheworld”.

Downton said he believed the alleged blackmail bid was an “opportunistic” attempt to extort cash. Morgan’s former girlfriend is not thought to have been involved in the bid.

Police in Hobart refused to offer comment.

Englandplay Australia knowing they meet the same opponents in their opening World Cup game in Melbourne on 14 February.

Morgan has revelled in the responsibility, saying: “I’ve always been asked if the captaincy has been a little bit of a burden and I’ve always said, ‘No, it’s been great. It’s been a little bit of a distraction in a good way and it’s taken the focus off my game, which maybe I’ve focused on a little bit too much in the past.

“I see this as a really exciting opportunity to win a World Cup. We’re going to be tested in this Tri-Series against two very good sides and I wouldn’t want it any other way. You need to be tested against the best to see where you’re at.”