Elgin City Footballer Accused Of Match Betting Fraud Charge

7 March 2023
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A Scottish league footballer accused of hatching a plot with good friends to defraud a bookie had more than ₤ 2,000 in his bedside drawer, a trial heard.


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


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


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


In a joint declaration agreed by the Crown and defence legal representatives, it was confirmed that Mr Hester had selected up a yellow card during the very first half of the Scottish League Cup video game.


It likewise confirmed that the 3 other implicated had carried out a number of financial transactions in the hours before the match in July 2019.


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


Suspicious wagering patterns


Mr Duncan stated it was agreed as reality that Mr Myres had actually paid cash into Mr Soutar's account and also into an account coming from Mr Parrott.


He stated bets worth thousands of pounds had actually been put on Mr Hester getting reserved and the bookmaker had paid out earnings at chances of 5-1.


Mr Duncan stated it was agreed that mix bets - including Mr Hester getting a yellow card - were likewise positioned and won by members of the implicated group.


The Scottish Football Association stepped in to produce an efficiency review of Mr Hester throughout the match after looking out about suspicious wagering on the video game.


The court was revealed video footage of Hester's home being robbed and the footballer informing officers he understood what they were there for and would take them to the cash.


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


"I've got the cash, it's at home. If I take you home and offer you the cash, that's what occurred.


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


Mr Hester is alleged to have plotted before the match with 3 others to place a series of bets on him being booked by the referee.


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


The charge declares the four males got ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, which ₤ 13,583.32 of it was gotten as unlawful profits.


An alternate variation of the charge declares they cheated at gambling by placing 5 bets on Mr Hester being reserved and that he was revealed a yellow card for a foul, resulting in them incorrectly acquiring ₤ 13,583.32 in payouts.


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose