David Leppard – Sunday Times November 4, 2007
The aide at the centre of an alleged blackmail plot against a member of the royal family has claimed he also had a homosexual liaison with the royal’s father and a Tory MP. The claims are made on recordings seized by police.
The new allegations, which are unsubstantiated, are contained on two computer disks, containing 16 audio and 24 videotapes, seized by detectives during a “sting” operation. The Sunday Times revealed last weekend that Scotland Yard’s blackmail squad had been called in by the junior royal. He claimed that two men had tried to extort £50,000 in exchange for agreeing not to sell the recording to the media.
Ian Strachan and Sean McGuigan are due to appear at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing on December 20. They deny the charges. This weekend it emerged that the disks contain other detailed allegations about at least four other members of the royal family. The claims could well be aired by the two defendants when the case goes to trial.
Legal sources say the disks include claims by the royal aide that:
- The junior royal was so concerned about the disk being made public that he had agreed to fly to London to meet the alleged blackmailers.
- Cocaine was supplied from a building routinely used by the royal.
- The royal aide engaged in a gay sex act with a well-known Tory MP.
None of the individuals can be named for legal reasons. It remains unclear whether the recordings will be shown to a jury. If they are, they are likely to be the subject of further draconian reporting restrictions, legal experts say.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2801049.ece
Last updated 06/11/2007
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