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 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 money when his family home was raided.


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


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


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


It likewise confirmed that the 3 other implicated had actually undertaken a variety of financial deals in the hours before the match in July 2019.


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


Suspicious betting patterns


Mr Duncan stated it was concurred as reality that Mr Myres had actually paid cash into Mr Soutar's account and also into an account belonging to Mr Parrott.


He said bets worth thousands of pounds had actually been put on Mr Hester getting booked and the bookmaker had paid winnings at chances of 5-1.


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


The Scottish Football Association actioned in to produce a performance evaluation of Mr Hester during the match after looking out about suspicious betting patterns on the video game.


The court was shown footage of Hester's home being raided and the footballer informing 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 know what you are speaking about. There's no point mucking you about.


"I've got the cash, it's at home. If I take you home and give you the money, that's what took place.


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


Mr Hester is alleged to have outlined before the match with three others to put a series of bets on him being scheduled by the referee.


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


The charge declares the 4 guys got ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, and that ₤ 13,583.32 of it was gotten as unlawful earnings.


An alternate version of the charge declares they cheated at gaming by putting five bets on Mr Hester being reserved and that he was revealed a yellow card for a foul, resulting in them incorrectly obtaining ₤ 13,583.32 in payouts.


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose