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 found with the money when his household home was robbed.


He denies backing himself to get booked during a match versus Hibs as part of a plan with three 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 legal representatives, it was confirmed that Mr Hester had gotten a yellow card during the very first half of the Scottish League Cup game.


It also 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 read the statement 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 fact that Mr Myres had actually paid money 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 jackpots at odds of 5-1.


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


The Scottish Football Association actioned in to produce an efficiency evaluation of Mr Hester throughout the match after being notified about suspicious wagering patterns on the game.


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


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


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


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


Mr Hester is alleged to have actually plotted 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 on discovered in his bedside drawer.


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


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


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose