A FORMER Accrington Stanley trialist goalkeeper has admitted blackmailing a Premiership star with sex images.
Ashley Timms, 22, pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court last week. The case was adjourned but the judge warned Timms he would be jailed.
Timms, who also played with Mancester City’s under-19s team, is accused of demanding £15,000 from the unnamed star.
He had denied the charge and was due to stand trial but changed his plea.
He is charged with making a series of unwarranted demands from the Premiership player by publishing images of a sexual nature.
Timms, of Spring Road, Middleton, remained impassive in the dock as he was warned he would be jailed.
Rob Kearney, defending, said Timms changed his plea after reviewing prosecution telephone evidence.
During the legal argument, David Friesner, prosecuting, told the court a series of phone calls and text messages "culminated in the offence being committed".
It was, he said, "a series of negotiations followed by a series of threats".
Judge Andrew Gilbart, the Recorder of Manchester, said: "This case carries, inevitably, a prison sentence. There are no two ways about it."
The case was adjourned until 5 September for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.
Timms was released on conditional bail which means he must report to a police station twice a week.
The court has previously made an order banning publication of the identity of the Premier League footballer.
Timms has played for local sides including Altrincham, Curzon Ashton, Mossley and Atherton LR and had trials at Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, Oldham, Macclesfield and Stanley.
He also had brief spells at Shrewsbury Town and Runcorn. In January, he joined Cambridge City on non-contract terms.
