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 bookmaker 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 denies backing himself to get reserved during a match against Hibs as part of a plan with 3 others to defraud Bet365.


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


In a joint statement concurred by the Crown and defence attorneys, it was confirmed that Mr Hester had actually gotten a yellow card throughout the very first half of the Scottish League Cup game.


It also verified that the three other accused had carried out a variety 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 betting patterns


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


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


Mr Duncan stated it was concurred that mix bets - consisting of 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 during the match after being alerted about suspicious betting patterns on the game.


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


Hester said: "Do you know 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 give you the money, that's what occurred.


"I was reserved in a video game and my friends offered me money 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 on discovered in his bedside drawer.


The charge alleges the four guys got ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, which ₤ 13,583.32 of it was acquired as unlawful payouts.


An alternate variation of the charge alleges they cheated at gambling by placing 5 bets on Mr Hester being booked which he was revealed a yellow card for a foul, causing them incorrectly getting ₤ 13,583.32 in payouts.


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose