Entertainment / Celebrity
£30k snaps blackmailer targets Rooneys
23 Feb 2011 at 05:58hrs | Views
WAYNE and Coleen Rooney called in cops after an alleged £30,000 plot to blackmail them over private photos of their baby son Kai.
They are said to have faced ransom demands for the return of a lost camera containing more than 100 "priceless" pictures of the lad.
Police set up a sting operation and arrested two men aged 28 and 41 and a woman of 25.
Manchester United and England striker Wayne, 25, and Coleen, 24, left the camera behind after going to a Black Eyed Peas gig at Manchester's MEN Arena last May.
Frantic Coleen called the venue from their home in Prestbury, Cheshire, but the camera could not be found. Someone tried to sell the photos to media outlets, who turned them down.
Approaches were then allegedly made to the Rooneys via Manchester United and police were immediately alerted.
The suspects are on police bail until March 9 pending further investigations.
Coleen may have to give evidence if it goes to court. It is believed the photos have been returned to the couple.
A source said: "Wayne and Coleen were heartbroken. They had loads of photos of Kai on the camera. He's 15 months now but these were of him as a very young baby and couldn't be replaced. They should be praised for standing up to the blackmailers."
A Rooneys spokesman said: "Wayne and Coleen take their son's privacy very seriously."
British Transport cops, who police the arena next to Manchester's Victoria station, said: "We are investigating an allegation of blackmail. Three people have been arrested and bailed."
They are said to have faced ransom demands for the return of a lost camera containing more than 100 "priceless" pictures of the lad.
Police set up a sting operation and arrested two men aged 28 and 41 and a woman of 25.
Manchester United and England striker Wayne, 25, and Coleen, 24, left the camera behind after going to a Black Eyed Peas gig at Manchester's MEN Arena last May.
Frantic Coleen called the venue from their home in Prestbury, Cheshire, but the camera could not be found. Someone tried to sell the photos to media outlets, who turned them down.
Approaches were then allegedly made to the Rooneys via Manchester United and police were immediately alerted.
The suspects are on police bail until March 9 pending further investigations.
Coleen may have to give evidence if it goes to court. It is believed the photos have been returned to the couple.
A source said: "Wayne and Coleen were heartbroken. They had loads of photos of Kai on the camera. He's 15 months now but these were of him as a very young baby and couldn't be replaced. They should be praised for standing up to the blackmailers."
A Rooneys spokesman said: "Wayne and Coleen take their son's privacy very seriously."
British Transport cops, who police the arena next to Manchester's Victoria station, said: "We are investigating an allegation of blackmail. Three people have been arrested and bailed."
Source - thesun
