Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard at centre of foiled blackmail plot

The Liverpool captain was celebrating his testimonial with the Anfield club at a bar in Formby, Merseyside last year when an argument with another group ended up on the street.

Images of the altercation were captured on CCTV which cop Helen Jones allegedly obtained from a branch of Lloyds Bank a few days day later.

There was a clear inference that Jones took the footage on behalf of other parties involved in the alleged plot, a court heard.

Paul Lloyd was involved in the scuffle, and allegedly contacted Gerrard to make the alleged blackmail demands via a third party. Lloyd showed Lee McPartland the footage on a laptop with threats that the disc would be sold to the Sun newspaper. McParland was in Gerrard's group on the night.

Jones was the only woman who could have obtained a copy of the CCTV disc, Preston Crown Court heard.

PC Jones said in a defence statement: “I had been assured that there was no intention to use any evidence criminally. I wasn’t made aware that the recording may be offered to the press.”

Richard Haworth, prosecuting, said that Jones had obtained the footage in the expectation of being paid.

Officer Jones was arrested for conspiracy to commit blackmail. She had worked for Merseyside Police for eight years.

She admitted misconduct for taking the disc after the blackmail charged was dropped.

Jones was suspended from duty, and resigned in December. She faces prison if found guilty.

The case continues.