Goalie faces prison over sex blackmail
Date published: 12 August 2008
FACING jail . . . goalkeeper Ashley Timms
A former Oldham goalkeeper is facing jail after admitting using sex images to blackmail a Premiership footballer.
Ashley Timms (22), demanded £15,000 from the Premiership star, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Timms, from Middleton, who had trials with Latics Reserves in February, 2007, pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court yesterday to making a series of unwarranted demands, namely to publish images of a sexual nature, with menaces.
Judge Andrew Gilbart warned Timms a prison sentence was inevitable. He was bailed until September 5 for sentencing at the same court.
Wearing a dark suit, white shirt and black tie, and sporting a large diamond earring in each ear, Timms spoke only to confirm his name and to enter his guilty plea.
He admitted blackmail between March 1 and April 3 this year.
His head dropped and his face reddened as he was told he faces jail when he is sentenced next month.
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.”
David Friesner, prosecuting, did not outline the facts of the case, but told the court the blackmail victim, the player known only as Witness A, received a number of threats over the sexual images.
He added: “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.”
Rob Kearney, defending Timms, asked for bail and for a pre–sentence report to be compiled before he is jailed.
He said: “He is a young man of hitherto good character. He’s a young man who has led a blameless life.”
The Manchester–born goalkeeper is currently without a club, having flitted between sides since he was 17.
He played for Manchester City’s under–19 side and had spells at Mossley, Curzon Ashton, Altrincham, Shrewsbury Town and Accrington Stanley.
Timms joined Cambridge City in January on non–contract terms but has since left.
