THREE men and a woman appeared in court today (Friday) accused of blackmailing a 52-year-old farmer from Richmondshire in North Yorkshire.

Christy Stokes, 44, from Micheldever, Hampshire; and Dennis McGinley, 35, Bernard McGinley, 24, and Bianca McGinley 30, all from Little Denice, Fivehead, Taunton, Somerset, were at Teesside Crown Court.

Bianca McGinley appeared via a live video-link from Low Newton Prison in Durham, while the men were on a link from Holme House Prison in Stockton.

They did not enter any pleas during the brief hearing in front of Judge Tony Briggs. A plea and case management hearing will be held in late-November.

The alleged offence occurred between August 23 and September 9, according to North Yorkshire Police.

The force’s Major Crime Unit launched a large-scale and country-wide investigation, which led to the arrests of the four suspects.