A woman accused of blackmailing rugby star Danny Cipriani for cash has appeared in court for the first time.
Lisa Murphy, 39, of Montgomery Way, Wootton, Northampton was sent by Wimbledon Magistrates Court to appear at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on September 20.
She faces one count of blackmail in that between September 1 and October 31, last year, with a view to gain for herself or another or with intent to cause loss to another, made an unwarranted demand of money from Danny Cipriani with menaces.
Murphy, who lives in a three-bedroom end of terrace house, worth £213,000, only spoke during the brief hearing to confirm her name, age and address.
She was dressed in a white sleeveless blouse, black trousers, flat shoes and wore a wide-brimmed hat.
A second co-defendant is due to appear in court on August 31.
Murphy was released on bail by District Judge James Henderson on condition she does not contact Cipriani or a Violet Smith.
Prosecutor Miss Jackie Hughes did not explain the details of the case because the blackmail charge is indictable-only and is immediately sent to the Crown Court.
Roehampton-born Cipriani, 28, currently plays for Premiership team Wasps as fly-half or fullback.
The six-foot-one England international was educated privately at Wimbledon College prep school Donhead.
His mother Anne, who split with his Afro-Trinidadian father Jay soon after his birth funded Danny’s education by becoming a black taxi driver.
An all-round sportsman Cipriani played junior football for QPR, was offered youth terms by Reading FC and played schoolboy cricket for Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
He won 14 England caps between 2008 and 2015 and has also played for Melbourne Rebels and Sale Sharks.
Earlier this year he was convicted of drink-driving after crashing his Mercedes into a mini-cab after a night out and was banned for 18 months and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £7,620 for being nearly twice the legal limit.
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