Footballer ‘filmed in hotel tryst for blackmail plot’
A Premier League footballer was blackmailed after jumping out a window and fleeing in his underpants when he was filmed in a hotel room with a woman, a court was told.
The player, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been ‘intimate’ with Natalie Wood, 28, having previously met her on two occasions after sending her a message on social media.
Bristol Crown Court heard Wood hatched a plot to blackmail the star with three men, including Tyrone Coleman, 34, a former contestant on TV dating show Take me Out.
She arranged to meet the player in a hotel room last year, allegedly leaving a spare key card with Coleman’s brother Nathan, 38, and Prince rowe, 37. The jury heard the men burst into the room after the star took off his designer tracksuit and rolex watch, causing the player to jump out of a window and flee down a fire escape.
The man took shelter in a nearby restaurant where staff recognised him and gave him clothes until police arrived. Simon Jones, prosecuting, described the victim as ‘a well-known professional football player’.
Giving evidence to the jury via video link, the footballer said he had been intimate with Wood. He said: ‘i was sat on the bed. At this point, i had my boxers on. She seemed really nervous. i had a funny feeling that something was wrong. Within minutes, the door opened and two guys walked in.
‘it happened so quickly. i just saw a window to my right. i managed to get out of the window without thinking of how high up it was. i jumped out of the window and i managed to get hold of the staircase.’ The court heard Wood met the player after he sent her a message on social media in 2017.
He sent her money to book a hotel room on three occasions. mr Jones said: ‘The plan was for Prince rowe and Nathan Coleman to burst into the room and then capture an incriminating image.
‘The incriminating image taken was to be used to blackmail and extort money from him, threatening to take it to the media if he did not co-operate with the demands.’
After fleeing the player received a text message from Wood’s phone telling him he had been caught in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time’. The message said: ‘i don’t really want to expose you to the media but if you don’t respond within 24 hours then you leave me no choice.’
Wood has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail. Nathan Coleman, of Sussex, his brother Tyrone, of Birmingham, Prince rowe, of Birmingham deny plotting blackmail. The trial continues.