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 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 money when his family home was robbed.


He rejects 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 also reject the charge.


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


It likewise validated that the three other implicated had actually carried out a variety 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 accused, all from Montrose, have actually gone on trial.


Suspicious betting 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 belonging to Mr Parrott.


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


Mr Duncan stated it was concurred 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 throughout the match after looking out 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 money.


Hester said: "Do you understand what would be much easier? I know 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 give you the money, that's what took place.


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


Mr Hester is alleged to have outlined before the match with 3 others to put 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 declares the 4 men received ₤ 17,333.32 in from Bet365 in 2019, which ₤ 13,583.32 of it was obtained as unlawful profits.


An alternate variation of the charge declares they cheated at betting by putting 5 bets on Mr Hester being scheduled which he was revealed a yellow card for a nasty, resulting in them falsely obtaining ₤ 13,583.32 in profits.


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose