Man admits Coleen Rooney blackmail

Photos of Wayne Rooney's son were found on a mobile phone lost by Coleen (PA)

A man has pleaded guilty to blackmailing Coleen Rooney in a case involving her son, a lost mobile phone and a gang intent on profiting from a series of family photographs.

Lee Platt, 28, pleaded guilty to blackmailing the wife of Manchester United and England footballer Wayne Rooney at Manchester Crown Court yesterday.

Platt, from Manchester, also entered a guilty plea to handling stolen goods.

He was arrested after the striker's celebrity wife lost her mobile phone while attending a Black Eyed Peas concert at the MEN arena in Manchester in May.

The phone apparently contained family snaps of the couple's son taken on the phone camera. Coleen Rooney was allegedly later contacted with a request for money to have the phone returned.

Jennifer Green, 25, and Steven Malcolm, 42, also from Manchester, have entered not guilty pleas to the same charges.

The case was adjourned and a trial date was fixed for 12 December at Manchester Crown Court. Ms Green and Mr Malcolm were granted bail.