Keeper 'blackmailed Premier League player'

A man has appeared in court accused of blackmailing a Premier League footballer, the Crown Prosecution Service said today.

The victim was subjected to a £15,000 demand from amateur football goalkeeper Ashley Timms, it is alleged.

Police were alerted and Timms, a former Manchester City under-19 team goalkeeper, was arrested and appeared at Manchester City Magistrates Court last Saturday.

He faced a single charge of making an unwarranted demand for money with menaces between March and April this year.

Timms, 22, was accused of demanding £15,000 from the victim, who cannot be named after magistrates made an order banning publication of his identity.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the charges.

The defendant, from Manchester, is a non-league footballer who has been at a number of clubs since he was 17.

He had trials at Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Oldham, Macclesfield and Norwich.

He also had brief spells at Shrewsbury Town, Accrington Stanley and Runcorn.

Timms, of Palace Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, was bailed to appear at Manchester Crown Court on 18 April.