AN ex-professional footballer blackmailed his boyhood coach for £70,000 by threatening him with false accusations of child sex abuse.

Former winger Gavin Geddes, who played for Brighton and Hove Albion, Bristol Rovers and AFC Bournemouth, sent letters and text messages demanding money from his former youth team manager – now a vulnerable 87-year-old.

Geddes told his victim he would labelled "a nonce" and die in prison if he did not pay.

A judged jailed the former player for 40 months and told him he would spend at least half of the time in jail.

Geddes, 46, used the case of paedophile coach Barry Bennell to scare the former family friend into believing he would ruin his reputation and send him to prison.

A jury at Lewes Crown Court heard Geddes from Brighton contacted the victim after hearing about child abuse cases on the radio.

The former footballer, who was then working as a courier, said he heard about historic cases including player Paul Stewart while driving and decided to go after his old coach.

He described the money as compensation for abuse he claims he suffered as a child.

His victim paid Geddes £47,000 out of terror over a five-month period in 2017, the judge said, and said he believed the payments were hush money.

Geddes used the money to buy a car and pay off debts.

The 87-year-old told the court he went to police after Geddes told him to remortgage his house to get another £20,000.

Geddes claimed he needed more money to pay for treatment in the USA.

“I knew then it was never going to stop,” his victim said.

“I had given him my life savings.”

Geddes, who went on to have a career as a professional footballer, maintained in court the abuse he said he suffered as a boy had blighted his life.

Sussex Police detectives investigated his claims of child sex abuse for 18 months.

The 87-year-old man was told late last year there would be no further action by police and no file would be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

His Honour Judge Gareth Hawksworth told Geddes he had denied his 87-year-old victim the chance for a secure and peaceful end to his life.

“You sent a letter to your victim demanding £50,000 to secure your silence.

“He has always denied, in plain and simple terms, abusing you but so frightened was he that he went to his bank.

“He was, of course, terrified.

“You indicated you were content with the £47,000 he had paid.

“But, with great cruelty you revived your demands for a further £20,000 based on a complete lie about receiving therapy in the United States.

“You had spent the £47,000 on a new car and paying off debts.

“You blithely suggested he could remortgage his home.

“He realised at last that you were a typical blackmailer who would never be satisfied.

“He was therefore the first person to reveal your allegations to the police.

“You laced your demands with nauseating hypocrisy with claims to love him, then told police you didn’t give a shit what happened to him.”

There was no reaction from Geddes as the judge told him he would spend half of his 40 month sentence in custody.

As he was taken down, Geddes called out: “Child abuse is not accepted, I will prove that.”

DC Tom Coll of Sussex Police said: “The guilty verdict and custodial sentence sends a clear message that even if you feel wronged you must still abide by the laws of the land.

“Mr Geddes went against all advice to contact professional bodies and ensure a fair and thorough investigation could take place.

“Instead, he saw an opportunity to exploit an elderly victim for his own personal gain by preying on his desire to maintain his reputation and status in society.”