Elgin City footballer accused of match wagering fraud charge

7 March 2023

A Scottish league footballer implicated of hatching a plot with good 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 denies backing himself to get booked during 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 validated that Mr Hester had actually gotten a yellow card during the first half of the Scottish League Cup game.

It also confirmed that the 3 other implicated had undertaken a number of financial deals in the hours before the match in July 2019.

Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan checked out the statement to jurors at Dundee Sheriff Court where the accused, all from Montrose, have actually gone on trial.

Suspicious wagering patterns

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

He said bets worth thousands of pounds had been put on Mr Hester getting booked and the bookmaker had paid profits at odds of 5-1.

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

The Scottish Football Association stepped in to produce an efficiency evaluation of Mr Hester during the match after looking out about suspicious wagering patterns on the game.

The court was shown video 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 stated: "Do you understand what would be easier? I understand what you are talking about. There's no point mucking you about.

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

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

Mr Hester is declared to have actually outlined before the match with 3 others to position a series of bets on him being reserved by the yohaig code referee.

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

The charge declares the 4 guys received ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, which ₤ 13,583.32 of it was obtained as unlawful jackpots.

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

The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.

Montrose