Woman in blackmail case 'only wanted an apology'

A woman accused of blackmailing a former international footballer told police investigating the case that threats she made against him were a "bluff" to make him apologise for ignoring her fan mail, Newcastle Crown Court was told yesterday.

A woman accused of blackmailing a former international footballer told police investigating the case that threats she made against him were a "bluff" to make him apologise for ignoring her fan mail, Newcastle Crown Court was told yesterday.

Carolyn Pick, 36, admitted to police that she told the ex-footballer - who cannot be named for legal reasons - she had a recording of phone sex between them and would give it to the press to get an apology from him.

But during taped police interviews played to the court, she told officers: "I want him to know I'm very sorry. I'm not blackmailing him, I just wanted him to say sorry. He broke my heart. He was all over me telling me he wanted to sleep with me. He just devastated me.

"He has destroyed my life. I really liked him, I really loved him. I fell in love with him because he was intimate on the phone but he didn't call back.

"I called him at work and he pretended he didn't know me. How do you expect me to feel when he treats women like prostitutes?" Breaking down in tears, she added: "He's horrible. He's a very nasty man. I've never got over the way he treated me and I never will. He's nasty, he tells lies."

Ms Pick, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, denies two charges of blackmail.

She told detectives the former footballer had telephone sex with her twice in 1995 and 1996 but then refused to call her again, despite many letters she sent to his workplace.

Ms Pick also told police that the ex-footballer had visited her flat several times and stood outside her mother's home near by - claims the former player has denied. When questioned further, she admitted that neither she nor her mother had seen the ex-footballer, and that she had no otherwitnesses who could verify her claim.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.