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 discovered with the cash when his household home was raided.


He denies backing himself to get scheduled throughout a match versus Hibs as part of a scheme with three others to defraud Bet365.


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


In a joint declaration by the Crown and defence attorneys, it was confirmed that Mr Hester had picked up a yellow card throughout the first half of the Scottish League Cup video game.


It also verified that the three other accused had actually carried out a number of monetary 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 implicated, all from Montrose, have gone on trial.


Suspicious betting patterns


Mr Duncan said it was concurred as truth that Mr Myres had actually paid money into Mr Soutar's account and also into an account coming from Mr Parrott.


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


Mr Duncan stated it was agreed that combination bets - including Mr Hester getting a yellow card - were likewise positioned 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 being informed about suspicious betting patterns on the video game.


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


Hester said: "Do you understand what would be easier? I know what you are speaking 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 cash, that's what took place.


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


Mr Hester is alleged to have outlined before the match with 3 others to place 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 guys received ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, and that ₤ 13,583.32 of it was acquired as unlawful winnings.


An alternate variation of the charge alleges they cheated at betting by putting 5 bets on Mr Hester being booked and that he was revealed a yellow card for a nasty, resulting in them incorrectly acquiring ₤ 13,583.32 in jackpots.


The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.


Montrose