Former England Captain Steven Gerrard threw the first punch in a street assault which sparked a blackmail plot involving an off-duty policewoman, a court claims.
Paul Lloyd gave evidence at the trial of ex-cop Helen Jones who has admitted to illegally seizing CCTV footage of the alleged bust-up.
The 35-year-old described being kicked and punched for four minutes by Gerrard’s pals.
He also told the Preston Court how the Liverpool skipper instigated the violence against him outside a bar in Formby, Merseyside, after the 34-year-old’s testimonial match.
When Mr Lloyd was asked what was on the DVD footage of the fracas which he was later handed, said: “It showed me on my own assaulted by 12 people and Steven Gerrard being aggressive and throwing the first punch, and all his friends thought it was right for me to be kicked and punched for four minutes.”
He said after viewing the footage he met up with Lee McPartland, a friend of Gerrard, and an offer to pay him money was made.
Mr Lloyd said; “Mr McParland requested to smooth it over and buy me a drink. He said ‘I will get your money off Steven now. Let’s put this to bed’.
“I was not wanting money.”
Mr Lloyd said he was handed a copy of the footage after the incident.
Jones, 33, who was on a career break from Merseyside Police when she flashed her warrant card to the manager of a Lloyds Bank branch, pretending she was investigating the alleged flare-up, is awaiting sentence for misconduct.
But the ex-officer, now of Chatham, Kent, denies knowingly being part of a blackmail plot to bribe Kop idol Gerrard with the video tape, which later ended up in the hands of The Sun newspaper.
Lloyd’s account was labelled as ‘nonsense’ by a prosecutor who said that Gerrard, 34, was seeking to avoid any involvement in a confrontation and was attempting to defuse the situation.
Mr Lloyd was yesterday summoned to court to give evidence at a hearing for a judge to decide whether Jones’s conduct was not only illegal but, as the prosecution say, for ‘criminal purposes.’
Gerrard, his model wife Alex and the player’s close pal Lee McPartland, 43, were previously named in civil action legal papers lodged at London’s High Court where Mr Lloyd has sought damages from them in connection with the incident.
Mr Lloyd, who revealed his High Court writ was never served against the Gerrards, claimed he had received death threats since the alleged brawl.
He told Preston Crown Court: “I didn’t want it to become public around the Hillsborough anniversary. My solicitor advised me not to do it until after the World Cup.
“I’ve been told to drop what’s going on civilly, I’ve had to move out of Formby, I’ve had death threats.
“It has turned my life upside down, business and personally.”
Mr Lloyd said he received a phone call offering him the DVD from ‘a friend of a friend’ but was not prepared to name either as he didn’t want to make their life ‘a misery.’
Richard Haworth, prosecuting, said to Mr Lloyd: “I am suggesting you have come here to give evidence about the incident which took place on the night of August 4th last year and that is all you’re interested in.
“Getting on your soapbox and shouting out loud and clear what you say happened.”
Mr Lloyd said: “No, I have been asked questions and I have answered them.”
Mr Lloyd was arrested by police on suspicion of blackmail but he told the court he was released with no further action.
Roderick Jones, defending Jones, asked him: “Can you help us with whether or not Helen Jones might have been encouraged to get the tape in order to blackmail someone?” Mr Lloyd replied: “No.” Mr Jones continued: “Can you think of anyone who would do that?” “No,” the witness repeated.
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