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Tamara Ecclestone left paranoid by bogus kidnap plot

Written by . Published: September 09 2012

British socialite-turned-TV star Tamara Ecclestone has been left fearing for her safety following a fake kidnap threat.


On Friday (07Sep12), Martin Peckham, 41, was jailed for five years for attempting to blackmail the brunette beauty's famous father, Formula 1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone, after falsely claiming a Middle Eastern gang would abduct his daughter unless he paid a $320,000 ransom.


Peckham, who was arrested in July (12), admitted a charge of blackmail.


A statement from Tamara was read out during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London, and she revealed she has been left feeling wary and paranoid.


The 28 year old said in the statement, "I do not feel safe when I go out, or even when I'm home. I have security around me 24 hours a day. I've become paranoid; I have to have all my windows and doors checked twice, and I keep my going out to a bare minimum. I feel trapped."


In his own statement, Bernie Ecclestone added, "At the time it (the alleged kidnap plot) seemed very serious, but I was pleased to know that it was basically an amateur trying to extract money."

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