Ashley Timms Admitted Blackmailing the Players

A former Manchester City youth team goalkeeper has admitted blackmailing a top Premier League footballer over sexual images. 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. He had previously pleaded not guilty to demanding £15,000 from the player.

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. 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 joined Cambridge City in January on non-contract terms but has since left.