Alleged Blackmail Plot Against British Royal
Report: 2 Arrested Over Attempt to Blackmail Unnamed British Royal With Alleged Sex Tape
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3786574
A newspaper reported that police have arrested two men over an attempt to blackmail a member of the British royal family with an alleged sex tape.
In response to queries about the report, London police said only that two men, 30 and 40, had appeared at a London court on Sept. 13 charged with blackmail. They were ordered detained until a hearing at London's Central Criminal Court on Dec. 20. The force would give no details of the case or identify the suspects.
Buckingham Palace said it would have no comment on what it described as "a police matter."
The Sunday Times said the alleged blackmailers had approached the unnamed family member and demanded $100,000 not to publicize a video allegedly showing the royal engaged in a sex act. The pair also claimed to have evidence suggesting the royal had supplied an aide with an envelope containing cocaine, the newspaper said.
The newspaper said it could not identify the royal family member for legal reasons.
The British Broadcasting Corp., without citing sources, said the blackmail target was not a senior member of the royal family.
The Sunday Times said the target contacted police, and two suspects were arrested at a London hotel on Sept. 11 after an undercover police operation.
Timeline: How the Royal 'sex and drugs' blackmail scandal happened
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=490239&in_page_id=1770
The alleged "sex and drugs" blackmailing of a member of the royal family is the first extortion attempt of its kind since a plot against Edward VII in 1891. Here is how the latest events are believed to have played out.
August 2:
• One of the alleged blackmailers makes contact with the Royal household for the first time. During the conversation it is claimed that there is a videotape of an aide giving someone oral sex.
The recipient of the sex act was indicated to be the royal. The blackmailers also claimed that they had evidence suggesting the aide was given cocaine by the royal.
September 11:
• A sting operation by police takes place at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane. An undercover detective posing as a royal aide meets the alleged blackmailers and watches part of the video. Police then swoop. They arrest the two men and seize the tape.
September 13:
• A 30-year-old man and 40-year-old man appear at City of Westminster Magistrates Court each charged with one count of blackmail.
October 28:
• The Sunday Times breaks the news of the alleged extortion attempt under the headline: "Royal targeted in sex and drugs blackmail plot".
December 20: • Two men are due to appear at the Old Bailey charged with blackmail.
British royal target of sex and drugs blackmail
http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=599361
- Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on a newspaper report that a member of the British royal family has been targeted in a blackmail scandal involving sex and drugs use.
The Sunday Times newspaper reported that the royal, who was not identified for legal reasons, called in the police to investigate the case involving two alleged blackmailers seeking 50,000 pounds (100,000 dollars, 70,000 euros).
The men reportedly demanded the money in return for not publicising a video purportedly showing the royal engaged in a sex act, the weekly paper added.
In telephone calls to the royal’s office in August, the alleged blackmailers had also claimed to have proof that the royal had supplied an assistant with an envelope containing cocaine.
They said they had video footage of the royal aide snorting the drug.
After the royal tipped off police, a 30-year-old man and a 40-year-old man were arrested in September in a sting operation.
The two men were seized as they played what they claimed was the sex video in a suite at a plush central London hotel, according to the report.
“A 30-year-old man and 40-year-old man appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13th September each charged with one count of blackmail,” the Metropolitan Police said in a brief statement.
“Both have been remanded in custody to reappear at the Old Bailey on 20th December."
According to the Sunday Times, it is the first blackmail case involving a member of the royal family in more than a century.
In 1891, the future Edward VII discussed with his solicitor paying off two prostitutes he frequented in return for letters he had written to them.
UK media name royal sex-and-drugs blackmail suspects
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22668537-663,00.html
BRITISH media have identified the men accused of blackmail in the sensational royal sex-and-drugs blackmail case.
Ian Strachan was arrested with Sean McGuigan, both described as living on the fringes of royal society.
While few details were known about McGuigan, 40, Scots-born Strachan, 30, was described as a suave socialite with a millionaire lifestyle.
The party-loving son of a businessman has a penthouse apartment in London's trendy Chelsea, where his neighbours include Premier League soccer stars and business high-flyers.
He told his lawyers he had met princes William and Harry twice, as well as their cousin Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne, and Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince Michael of Kent, who is the Queen's cousin.
He is a familiar figure in the best London clubs. Strachan and McGuigan are on remand in jail accused of plotting to blackmail a member of the royal family.
The alleged would-be victim cannot be named for legal reasons but media confirmed it was not William or Harry. It was reported not to be a prominent member of the royal family.
The suspects are accused of demanding pound stg. 50,000 ($111,000) not to release tapes in which an aide allegedly performs a sex act on a royal.
Sources said the recordings were made by mobile phone and hidden tape recorders at a flat in a smart area near Buckingham Palace. There are alleged to be shots of a Harrods charge card being used to chop lines of cocaine on a coffee table. The drug was then snorted by the royal assistant.
The aide was recorded making his claim about the sex act before asking for more cocaine.
It is alleged the two accused men arranged to meet the royal staff member at London's Hilton Hotel to negotiate selling the material.
However they were met by undercover police who arrested them. Strachan and McGuigan are due to appear at the Old Bailey in December.
If convicted they could face possible sentences of 14 years.
Strachan's lawyer, Rome-based Giovanni Di Stefano, said yesterday: "At no time did my client call the royal household. He in fact called the private business office of the individual concerned. My client denies that he asked for any money and that it was in fact the office of the individual concerned who first offered money."
High-profile Mr di Stefano has represented such figures as Saddam Hussein and great train robber Ronnie Biggs.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment, saying it was a police matter.
Revealed: Royal ‘blackmailer’
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article399755.ece
ONE of the men accused in the sensational Royal “sex and drugs” blackmail case was yesterday revealed as suave Ian Strachan – a socialite with a millionaire lifestyle.
The party-loving smoothie has a penthouse apartment in London’s trendy Chelsea – where his neighbours include Premier League stars and City high-earners.
Scots-born Strachan, 30, claims to move on the fringes of the Royal Family.
He told his lawyers he has met Princes William and Harry twice, as well as Zara Phillips and Lord Frederick Windsor.
He is a familiar figure in the best London clubs. He is usually immaculate in expensive designer suits – but photos reveal he is also ready to let his hair down when in party mood.
Strachan and Sean McGuigan, 40, are on remand in jail accused of plotting to blackmail a member of the Royal Family. The alleged would-be victim cannot be named for legal reasons – but The Sun can confirm it is NOT William or Harry.
The suspects are accused of demanding £50,000 not to release tapes in which an aide allegedly claimed the Royal performed a sex act on him.
Sources said the recordings were made by mobile phone and hidden tape recorders at a flat in a smart area near Buckingham Palace.
There are alleged to be shots of a Harrods charge card being used to chop lines of cocaine on a coffee table. The drug was then snorted by the Royal assistant.
The aide was recorded making his claim about the sex act before asking for more cocaine.
It is alleged the two accused men arranged to meet the Royal staff member at London’s Hilton Hotel to negotiate selling the material.
But they were met by undercover police who arrested them. Strachan and McGuigan are due to appear at the Old Bailey in December.
If convicted they could face possible sentences of 14 years.
Strachan’s lawyer, Rome-based Giovanni Di Stefano, said yesterday: “At no time did my client call the Royal Household.
"He in fact called the private business office of the individual concerned.
“My client denies that he asked for any money and that it was in fact the office of the individual concerned who first offered money.”
Mr Di Stefano claimed Strachan’s hand was broken as he was put in handcuffs when he was arrested on September 11.
Strachan was born Paul Adalsteinson in Aberdeen.
He took his mother’s name after she split from his Icelandic father.
He is being held in Belmarsh Prison, SouthEast London. McGuigan is in Wandsworth. Lawyers are expected to seek bail this week.
IT is more than 100 years since a member of the Royal Family faced a blackmail bid.
In 1891 the Duke of Clarence – son of the future Edward VII – considered paying £200 to two hookers who had letters he sent them.
Suspect in royal sex and drugs scandal held at Belmarsh
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1793612.0.suspect_in_royal_sex_and_drugs_scandal_held_at_belmarsh.php
ONE of the men accused in the Royal sex and drugs blackmail case is being held at Belmarsh Prison.
Ian Strachan, aged 30, is accused of plotting to blackmail a member of the Royal Family, along with 40-year-old Sean McGuigan.
The alleged victim cannot be named for legal reasons.
The suspects are accused of demanding £50,000 not to release tapes in which an aide allegedly claimed the Royal performed a sex act on him.
The two are alleged to have met the royal aide at London's Hilton Hotel to negotiate selling the footage, which is said to have been made on a mobile phone.
But the pair were arrested by undercover police officers last month and are due to appear at the Old Bailey on December 20.
Royal 'blackmail threat' examined
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7065996.stm
The House of Windsor is dealing with the threat of blackmail, according to the Sunday Times.
The paper does not identify which royal is the alleged victim.
It says two men demanded £50,000 from a member of the Royal Family and threatened to go public if their demand was not met.
The pair, aged 30 and 40, appeared before City of Westminster magistrates on 13 September accused of blackmail and were remanded in custody.
West Lothian answer?
The Tories may have solved the West Lothian Question, the Observer says, with plans to strip Scottish MPs of the right to vote on English matters.
Under the proposal, Gordon Brown would be unable to vote on laws relating to English schools and hospitals.
One law Mr Brown may live to regret is the Freedom of Information Act.
The Mail on Sunday has used it to reveal the "terrifying scale" of knife crime, with figures suggesting one such crime is committed every 24 minutes.
Army cocaine use
A senior British commander questions his mission in Iraq in the Sunday Telegraph, saying soldiers are "tired of firing at people" in Basra.
He says innocent Iraqis are getting hurt, and asks: "What benefit are we bringing to these people?"
The pressures of war are taking their toll in another way, according to the Independent on Sunday.
It says cocaine use in the armed forces has trebled since the start of the conflict in Iraq.
Knee problems
MPs' expense claims provoke the wrath of the News of the World, which says average allowances of £136,000 per year show arrogant cynicism towards voters.
The Sunday Express is not impressed either. Its headline asks: "Why on earth must we pay for MPs' stamps while they deny soldiers free parcels?"
The People features a 101-year-old who is training for the London marathon.
Father-of-17 Buster Martin tells the paper he may need a couple of pints to stop his knees from freezing up.
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