London: Two persons, accused of trying to ensnare a member of the Royal family in a 50,000 pounds gay sex and drugs blackmail plot, appeared in a central London Criminal Court.

Ian Strachan, 30, and Sean McGuigan, 40, who appeared in the court yesterday, have denied the charges that they threatened to release a video of a royal aide claiming to engage in a sexual act with a member of the royal family.

A court order bars journalists from naming the alleged victim or any potential witnesses and Judge Jeremy Cooke has ruled that parts of the trial should be heard in private.

British media reports, however, earlier said that the royal in question is not a senior member of the family and does not carry out official engagements.

The two men first allegedly tried to sell the tapes to a tabloid newspaper and when the deal collapsed, hatched the plot to approach the royal.

Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on the case.

The video footage was allegedly shot in a flat close to Buckingham Palace in an upmarket residential area.

It allegedly shows cocaine being cut up on a coffee table with a Harrods charge card before being sniffed by the aide who made claims of a sex act that took place between the two before asking for "more cocaine".

The arrests took place on September 11 last year, five weeks after the first approach was made by the accused.

If convicted the defendants face a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail.
Source : PTI