Four due in court accused of blackmailing farmer

Three men and a woman are due in court on Friday (25 September) accused of blackmailing a farmer.

North Yorkshire Police said the alleged offence occurred between 23 August and 9 September 2015.

The alleged victim, who cannot be named due to the serious nature of the alleged offence, is a 52-year-old farmer from Richmondshire in North Yorkshire.

The force’s major crime unit launched a large-scale and country-wide investigation, which led to the arrests and blackmail charges against the suspects.

Christy Stokes, 44, from Micheldever, Hampshire; Dennis McGinley, 35;  Bernard McGinley, 24 and Bianca Broadway, 30, all from Little Denice, Fivehead, Taunton, Somerset, are due to appear at Teesside Crown Court in Middlesborough on Friday.

All four appeared at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court on 11 September 2015.

They were remanded in custody to appear before a crown court judge after magistrates took the view that their sentencing powers were not adequate.