Blackmailer threatened to kill Michael Schumacher's children unless he paid 900k euros
The man sent a chilling email to the racing legend's wife but was caught as he included his bank details, a court has heard.
Thursday 18 May 2017 16:05, UK
A blackmailer threatened to kill Formula One legend Michael Schumacher's children unless he paid 900,000 euros (£768,000).
The man, who cannot be named, has been given a suspended jail sentence and 50 hours community service by a German court, and ordered to get psychiatric help.
In an email to Schumacher's wife in February 2016, the 25-year-old wrote: "If the money doesn't reach us by March 31, 2016, your children will be killed in some way. In Formula Four, many accidents occur."
Schumacher's son Mick, 18, now competes in Formula Three but was racing for a Formula Four team at the time. His daughter Gina-Maria, 20, has a successful riding career.
Detectives traced the blackmailer after he disclosed his bank account details in the email.
Judge Eberhard Hausch told a court in the city of Reutlingen: "To put it cautiously, giving your own bank account details is not sensible."
The man's lawyer said his client "can't until this day explain why" he acted the way he did.
Schumacher, 48, is recovering at his Swiss home from a serious head injury sustained in a skiing accident in December 2013.
His family and manager have not released any details about his condition.