Three in Court Over Rooney Blackmail Plot

Three people appeared in a British court on Monday accused of trying to blackmail Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen for £5,000 ($8,100, 5,700 Euros).

Lee Platt, 28, Jennifer Green, 25, and Steven Malcolm, 42, were charged with blackmail and handling stolen goods during a brief hearing at a court in Manchester, northwest England.

The plot allegedly took place after the footballer's wife lost her camera phone at an arena in Manchester after attending a concert by U.S. band Black Eyed Peas in May last year.

The trio are said to have demanded cash from Rooney and his wife after discovering a memory card containing up to 100 pictures of their young son Kai.

The alleged blackmail offence happened between August 13 and September 11 last year, according to court documents.

"With a view to gain for yourself or another or with intent to cause loss to another made an unwarranted demand of £5,000 from Wayne and Coleen Rooney, with menaces," said the documents.

The second charge was listed as receiving stolen goods, namely Coleen's camera phone.

The trio will appear in court again on July 4.