Blackmailer jailed over bid to smear footballer

A man was jailed for blackmail yesterday after falsely claiming he had images of a Premiership footballer taking drugs and associating with prostitutes.

Steven Blower, 38, admitted attempting to obtain £48,000 (€69,935) from a friend of the international player, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, in exchange for the images.

Blower did not have any video or photographs and had made up the “malicious and false allegation” for his own financial gain, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

The court heard the footballer who plays for a Premiership club in Merseyside had been very concerned and worried by Blower’s demands for money.

Nicholas Johnson, prosecuting, said the defendant claimed to have a video and photographs showing the footballer with prostitutes and taking cocaine.

He said Blower, from Wavertree in Liverpool, demanded money on a number of occasions between August and October last year and even visited the footballer’s home.

Mr Blower claimed a Sunday newspaper had offered £150,000 (€218,000) for the images but said he would hand them over to the footballer for less.