Trio accused of Rooney ’blackmail’

Gang tried to blackmail Wayne and Coleen Rooney after finding couple's camera phone at Black Eyed Peas gig

Trio accused of Rooney 'blackmail'

Gang tried to blackmail Wayne and Coleen Rooney after finding couple's camera phone at Black Eyed Peas gig

A gang of three are accused of blackmailing Wayne and Coleen Rooney after allegedly getting her camera phone and threatening the couple unless they paid ufffd5,000 (Rs 3.65 lakh) for its return.

They are said to have demanded cash from the Manchester United star and his wife after discovering a memory card containing up to 100 private pictures of their young son Kai.

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Steven Malcolm and Jennifer Green stole Coleen Rooney's phone and threatened to reveal pictures of Kai Rooney

Lee Platt (28), Jennifer Green (25), and Steven Malcolm (42) were yesterday charged at Manchester Magistrates' Court with blackmail 'with menaces' and handling stolen goods after allegedly threatening to sell the pictures to the national press.

All three defendants appeared at a brief hearing where they were jointly charged with both offences. No pleas were entered.

It is alleged that Coleen Rooney accidentally left her camera phone at the Manchester Evening News Arena when the couple attended a concert by US band Black Eyed Peas in May last year.

It was claimed Coleen's camera was put down on a table in a hospitality suite during the concert before being taken.

At the time Coleen said she had been 'sickened' by the alleged blackmail attempt.

Yesterday, a court list gave further details of the charges the three defendants face, though they were not read out in court.

They said the alleged blackmail offence happened between August 13 and September 11 2010.

Green and Malcolm were given unconditional bail and Platt was remanded back into custody, with all three to appear at Manchester Crown Court on July 4.