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.