Alison Hammond update as police confirm racketeering investigation ‘after friend forced her to hand over thousands in racketeering schemes’

The POLICE have opened an investigation into a sinister blackmail plot against Alison Hammond.

The Sun revealed how This Morning star Alison presented the so-called boyfriend with thousands of pounds.

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Alison, 48, also bought the perpetrator a £5,000 BMW after he threatened to ‘ruin’ her if she didn’t cough.

West Midlands Police confirmed today that an investigation has been opened.

Police officers said they take the allegations “very seriously” and the investigation is “moving forward rapidly.”

Bake Off’s new host Alison showed officers the sinister blackmail messages this week after mustering up the courage to report him.

Friends revealed how scared the star was for her family after she blocked payments to the friend after an eight-month ordeal.

She blinked back tears and told a pal: “I trusted this guy who, it turns out, was only interested in my money.

“I thought he valued our friendship. I know now he just wanted me to finance his life of luxury.”

Despite the man’s drug problems, he and Alison forged an unlikely friendship.

She says she offered to pay for him to attend rehab – just so he could take advantage of her caring nature.

She told the pal: “Out of the blue he said he could tell lies so people think less of me. It was alarming.

“I am a very generous person and I was happy to spend money on him. I wanted to help him.”

Alison tried several times to end the friendship, but he kept sneaking back into her life.

The scammer threatened to tell the world lies about Alison that could derail her glittering career.

The threats and exploitation peaked last week, forcing the brave presenter to report him.

She told a colleague: “He sent me a message saying he would ruin me if I didn’t give him £3,500.

“I was stunned. I am still shocked. Having a friend trying to blackmail and blackmail me is just heartbreaking.

“I had to realize that I was finished and go to the police.”

Alison rose to fame after appearing in the third season of Big Brother in 2002.

Her bubbly personality helped her garner a legion of fans, and she landed a spot on This Morning.

Alison also appeared in 2014’s I’m A Celebrity and Strictly Come Dancing.

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