This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/8439628.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Horse kill threat man sentenced | Horse kill threat man sentenced |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A man who threatened to kill a top racehorse in a bid to avoid gambling debts of £55,000 has been given a 34-week suspended jail term. | A man who threatened to kill a top racehorse in a bid to avoid gambling debts of £55,000 has been given a 34-week suspended jail term. |
Andrew Rodgerson, 26, told Conduit's owner the horse would be stabbed if it ran in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes last July. | Andrew Rodgerson, 26, told Conduit's owner the horse would be stabbed if it ran in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes last July. |
He was arrested before the Ascot race, which was run amid tight security. | He was arrested before the Ascot race, which was run amid tight security. |
Rodgerson, from Rochdale, who admitted threatening to damage property, was sentenced at Bury Magistrates' Court. | |
An original charge of blackmail was dropped. | |
Conduit, which has an estimated stud value of £5m and was favourite for the race, went on to win on 25 July. | Conduit, which has an estimated stud value of £5m and was favourite for the race, went on to win on 25 July. |
Tight security | Tight security |
Rodgerson, of Craiglands, Balderstone, sent a series of text messages and e-mails to Peter Reynolds, the general manager of the Ballymacoll Stud Farm in Ireland which owned Conduit, Bolton Crown Court, sitting in Bury, heard. | |
Ten days before the race his first message read: "Dear Peter, we would just like to warn you should Conduit run in the King George then the horse will be killed." | |
Increased security was laid on by the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) during the horse's journey to Ascot and when it was stabled at the racecourse. | |
But Rodgerson was found before the race after his address was identified from the e-mails he sent to the general manager, in which he again demanded the horse should be withdrawn. | |
These were powerful men, he thought these were shadowy men - he thought perhaps they would be people who would hurt him Joseph Hart, defending | |
Judge Angela Nield, sentencing, described his crime as a "foolish escapade" which could have had a serious impact on the horse racing industry. | |
"I am clear that the gravity of the offence is the potential impact to the racing industry of this type of offending becoming more prevalent," she said. | |
During police interview Rodgerson admitted making the threats because he had become heavily in debt to a betting ring, the court heard. | |
Duncan Wilcock, prosecuting, said people would ask him to place three or four bets per day with a usual wager being up to £400 each way on a horse. | |
"This particular bet was an accumulator where other horses had already won and if Conduit won then Rodgerson said he would be in debt to the syndicate for £55,000," Mr Wilcock said. | |
"He explained he had made a mistake on one of the bets he should have placed." | |
'Shadowy figures' | |
Joseph Hart, defending, said Rodgerson had mistimed the bet and realised if it won he would owe the syndicate the huge sum, leaving him "utterly terrified". | |
He said: "These were powerful men, he thought these were shadowy men. He thought perhaps they would be people who would hurt him. | |
"So initially he lied to them that someone had taken the betting slip but then the syndicate said they would find him. | |
"The panic continued and he committed this frankly unsophisticated and deeply stupid crime." | |
Rodgerson told police he had no intention of carrying out the threat. | |
Speaking after the hearing, Det Sgt Andrew Butterworth, of Rochdale CID, said: "Rodgerson made, what were to his victims, very real and very disturbing threats. | |
"His actions were foolish and reckless." | |
Rodgerson's sentence was suspended for two years and he was also ordered to carry out 240 hours unpaid work. | Rodgerson's sentence was suspended for two years and he was also ordered to carry out 240 hours unpaid work. |