Middleton footballer jailed over sex tape blackmail

Date published: 09 September 2008

A footballer from Middleton has been jailed for 20 months for blackmailing a Premier League footballer over a sex video.

Ashley Timms, 22, demanded £15,000 from the star, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Former Oldham goalkeeper Timms made a series of threats to publish the images if he was not paid the cash.

The video clip involved a woman and the footballer engaged in sex at his home.

Timms pleaded guilty last month and was jailed on Friday (5 September) at Manchester Crown Court after admitting making a series of unwarranted demands with menaces.

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.

“This was a calculated attempt to extract money for your own benefit.”

The Manchester–born goalkeeper is currently without a club, having flitted between sides since he was 17.

He was a trialist with Oldham reserves in February 2007 and also played for Manchester City’s under–19 side and had spells at Mossley, Curzon Ashton, Altrincham, Shrewsbury Town and Accrington Stanley.