Elgin City Footballer Accused Of Match Betting Fraud Charge

7 March 2023
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A Scottish league footballer implicated of hatching a plot with buddies to defraud a bookmaker 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 raided.


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


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


In a joint declaration agreed by the Crown and defence lawyers, it was confirmed that Mr Hester had picked up a yellow card throughout the very first half of the Scottish League Cup game.


It likewise verified that the three other implicated had actually carried out a variety of financial transactions in the hours before the match in July 2019.


Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan checked out 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 concurred as fact that Mr Myres had paid money into Mr Soutar's account and likewise into an account coming from Mr Parrott.


He stated bets worth countless pounds had been placed on Mr Hester getting scheduled and the bookie had paid winnings at odds of 5-1.


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


The Scottish Football actioned in to produce a performance evaluation of Mr Hester throughout the match after being notified about suspicious betting patterns on the game.


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


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


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


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


Mr Hester is declared to have outlined before the match with three others to place a series of bets on him being booked by the referee.


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


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


An alternate version of the charge alleges they cheated at gaming by putting five bets on Mr Hester being booked which he was shown a yellow card for a nasty, causing them falsely obtaining ₤ 13,583.32 in winnings.


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose