Royal 'blackmail sting a failure'

Ian Strachan (above) and Sean McGuigan deny blackmail charges

A police operation to catch two men for allegedly blackmailing a member of the Royal Family was an "abject failure", London's Old Bailey has been told.

The court heard an officer posed as a royal aide and met the men over alleged recordings of gay sex claims but did not ask any "serious" questions.

Ian Strachan, 31, and Sean McGuigan, 41, are accused of demanding £50,000 to prevent them from selling the tapes.

The two Londoners deny blackmailing the royal known as Witness A.

Hotel meeting

The tapes contain claims by a royal employee, known as witness D, that A performed a sex act on him, the court has heard.

The undercover policeman arranged to meet Mr Strachan, of Fulham, south-west London, and Mr McGuigan, of Battersea, south London, at the Park Lane Hilton Hotel last September.

Giving evidence from behind a screen the officer, who had the pseudonym 'Paul Butler', was questioned about the role.

This, as an exercise in proving blackmail, was an abject failure Ronald Thwaites QC

Ronald Thwaites QC, representing Mr McGuigan, asked why the undercover officer had not asked more questions during the meeting about what was allegedly being sought for the tapes.

Mr Thwaites said to 'Mr Butler': "You were so conscious, whether through nervousness or inexperience, that you didn't advance the police case at all during this long interview."

'Ample opportunity'

'Mr Butler', a policeman with more than 10 years' experience as an undercover officer, said: "I think that it gives ample opportunity for people to say what they think and reasons why they are there and what this is all about.

"Counsel is right, I erred on the side of caution, the reasons being that I did not want any of this to become construed as an interview."

Mr Thwaites said: "This, as an exercise in proving blackmail, was an abject failure, because no proper serious relevant questions were asked."

The policeman replied: "I would totally disagree with that."

The case continues.