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 pals 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 robbed.


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


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


In a joint statement agreed by the Crown and defence attorneys, it was confirmed that Mr Hester had chosen up a yellow card during the first half of the Scottish League game.


It also verified that the 3 other implicated had undertaken a number of monetary 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 betting patterns


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


He stated bets worth countless pounds had actually been put on Mr Hester getting reserved and the bookie had paid out profits 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 an efficiency review of Mr Hester throughout the match after being alerted about suspicious betting patterns on the game.


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


Hester stated: "Do you understand what would be easier? I know 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 cash, that's what happened.


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


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


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


The charge alleges the four guys received ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, and that ₤ 13,583.32 of it was acquired as unlawful earnings.


An alternate variation of the charge declares they cheated at betting by positioning five bets on Mr Hester being reserved which he was revealed a yellow card for a foul, resulting in them falsely acquiring ₤ 13,583.32 in jackpots.


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose