Man imprisoned for Bernie Ecclestone blackmail plot
07/09/2012
Martin Peckham was today sentenced at Southwark Crown Court to five years' imprisonment for a blackmail plot involving the family of Bernie Ecclestone.
CPS London Crown Advocate Peter Zinner said: "Peckham purported to be a mercenary that was aware of a kidnap plot involving a gang of criminals from the Middle East. He contacted the family and told them for £200,000 he would deploy a team of men to effectively take out the kidnap gang.
"Whatever his motivation, this dreamed-up plot was simple but menacing enough to rack up the fear in the Ecclestone household. It elicited an immediate and devastating effect upon the family.
"Although this plot was fairly amateurish and committed, it seems, by a fantasist, it was executed with persistence and determination and is aggravated by the period of time that family was kept in fear."
Ends
Note: The charge was 'Blackmail between 20th June and 4th July 2012'.
