Jail suspended over threat to kill racehorse

A gambler was given a suspended jail term yesterday after he threatened to kill a top racehorse unless it was withdrawn from a race.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Jan 2010, 10:54 BST
Updated 5th Jan 2010, 10:54 BST

Andrew Rodgerson, 26, warned a racing stud manager not to run 2008 St Leger winner Conduit in a valuable Group One race at Ascot after he forgot to place an accumulator bet on behalf of a syndicate.

He panicked when he realised that victory for Conduit in last July's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes would lead to the syndicate expecting winnings of 50,000, Bolton Crown Court heard.

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Rodgerson, of Balderstone, near Rochdale, sent a series of text messages and emails to Peter Reynolds, the general manager for the Ballymacoll Stud Farm in Ireland which owned Conduit.

Ten days before the race he texted Mr Reynolds: "Dear Peter, we would just like to warn you should Conduit run in the King George then the horse will be killed."

Five days later he emailed the general manager: "Dear Peter, I don't believe you are taking the threat of death to Conduit very seriously. We want the horse removed from the King George this weekend. If you co-operate the horse will live."

Rodgerson was arrested at his home.

He admitted threatening to commit damage at an earlier hearing after an initial charge of blackmail was dropped.

Related topics:Ascot