A MAN "trolled" a Manchester City football coach by sending an email threatening to have him sacked, a court has heard

Konstantinos Milopoulos, who has worked as a football coach for 11 years, had been involved in an acrimonious split with his partner several months earlier.

The woman then began a new relationship with 40-year-old Christopher Banks, who is on trial at Bolton Crown Court accused of sending an electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Adam Watkins told how emails containing false allegations of domestic violence were also sent to Mr Milopoulos’ employer, the Football Association and European governing body, UEFA.

He was suspended for several months while an investigation took place before being fully cleared and allowed to return to work.

Mr Milopoulos told the jury that the email left him feeling anxious and stressed.

“I was completely confused. It destroyed me,” he added.

The jury heard that, on May 19, 2020, Mr Milopoulos was working at home when he received an email from someone calling themselves Martin Richards.

Banks, of Garstang Avenue, Bolton, admits he was the person who sent the message, alleging there was video and audio evidence that Mr Milopoulos had used coercive behaviour and violence against his partner.

“The person sending the email talks about being part of a group working for domestic violence charities and talks about seeking to ‘ensure that you never work with vulnerable people, ensure effectively that your UEFA qualified credentials are removed and that you are terminated from your employment’,” said Mr Watkins.

“That, in black and white, is a threat.”

The email went on to state that they hoped to find and offer legal advice to Mr Milopoulos’ former partner and encourage her to press charges. In reality Banks, who wrote the email, knew who Mr Milopoulos’ former partner, Jodie Harrison, was as he was in a relationship with her.

“He goes onto express the hope that he, Mr Milopoulos, never works in the football industry again,” said Mr Watkins.

The Bolton News: Christopher Banks leaves court

Mr Milopoulos called police and informed his boss at Manchester City in the Community of the email. He was suspended the next day, with further suspensions from the FA and UEFA to follow and was allowed back to work more than three months later, after an investigation concluded.

Although he admits sending the email to Mr Milopoulos, Banks, who has no previous convictions, denies it was threatening or designed to cause distress or anxiety.

Mr Watkins asked the jury: “Was Christopher Banks, when he sent that email to Mr Milopoulos, a concerned member of the public, seeking to protect children and vulnerable people or was he somebody who was pursuing a vendetta, seeking to make Mr Milopoulos’ life a misery by anonymously throwing out vile allegations?

“The word trolling is used quite a lot these days. You may or may not, when you have heard the evidence, feel that it applies here.”

The trial continues.