1 Elgin City Footballer Accused Of Match Betting Fraud Charge

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7 March 2023 ShareSave

A Scottish league footballer accused of hatching a plot with friends to defraud a bookie had more than ₤ 2,000 in his bedside drawer, a trial heard.

Elgin City striker Kane Hester was found with the cash when his household home was robbed.

He rejects backing himself to get scheduled throughout a match versus Hibs as part of a scheme with 3 others to defraud Bet365.

Findlay Soutar, Calvin Parrott and Brodie Myres also reject the charge.

In a joint statement agreed by the Crown and defence lawyers, it was verified that Mr Hester had gotten a yellow card during the very first half of the Scottish League Cup video game.

It likewise confirmed that the three other accused had carried out a variety of monetary transactions in the hours before the match in July 2019.

Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan read the statement to jurors at Dundee Sheriff Court where the implicated, all from Montrose, have gone on trial.

Suspicious betting patterns

Mr Duncan said it was agreed as fact that Mr Myres had paid cash into Mr Soutar's account and likewise into an account belonging to Mr Parrott.

He stated bets worth countless pounds had actually been placed on Mr Hester getting booked and the bookmaker had paid profits at chances of 5-1.

Mr Duncan said it was agreed that - consisting of Mr Hester getting a yellow card - were likewise placed and won by members of the implicated group.

The Scottish Football Association actioned in to produce a performance review of Mr Hester during the match after being notified about suspicious wagering patterns on the game.

The court was revealed video of Hester's home being raided and the footballer telling officers he understood what they were there for and would take them to the money.

Hester stated: "Do you understand what would be easier? I understand what you are talking about. There's no point mucking you about.

"I have actually got the money, it's at home. If I take you home and provide you the cash, that's what occurred.

"I was reserved in a video game and my pals provided me cash for it - ₤ 2,500."

Mr Hester is declared to have actually plotted before the match with 3 others to put a series of bets on him being reserved by the referee.

The court heard ₤ 2,400 was later found in his bedside drawer.

The charge alleges the four males received ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, and that ₤ 13,583.32 of it was obtained as illegal jackpots.

An alternate variation of the charge alleges they cheated at gambling by placing five bets on Mr Hester being booked which he was revealed a yellow card for a nasty, causing them wrongly acquiring ₤ 13,583.32 in jackpots.

The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.

Montrose