Elgin City footballer implicated of match wagering fraud charge

7 March 2023

A Scottish league footballer accused of hatching a plot with buddies to defraud a bookmaker had more than ₤ 2,000 in his bedside drawer, a trial heard.

Elgin City striker Kane Hester was found with the money when his family home was robbed.

He rejects backing himself to get reserved during a match against Hibs as part of a plan with 3 others to defraud Bet365.
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Findlay Soutar, Calvin Parrott and Brodie Myres also reject the charge.
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In a joint declaration agreed by the Crown and defence attorneys, it was confirmed that Mr Hester had actually gotten a yellow card throughout the first half of the Scottish League Cup video game.

It also verified that the 3 other accused had undertaken a number of financial deals in the hours before the yohaig code match in July 2019.

Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan checked out the statement to jurors at Dundee Sheriff Court where the yohaig code implicated, all from Montrose, have gone on trial.
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Suspicious wagering patterns
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Mr Duncan said it was agreed as reality that Mr Myres had into Mr Soutar's account and likewise into an account coming from Mr Parrott.

He said bets worth thousands of pounds had actually been placed on Mr Hester getting booked and the bookmaker had actually paid winnings at odds of 5-1.
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Mr Duncan stated it was agreed that mix bets - including Mr Hester getting a yellow card - were also put and won by members of the implicated group.

The Scottish Football Association actioned in to produce an efficiency review of Mr Hester during the match after being signaled about suspicious wagering patterns on the game.
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The court was revealed video of Hester's home being robbed and the footballer informing officers he knew what they were there for and would take them to the money.

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

"I was booked in a video game and my friends provided me money for it - ₤ 2,500."
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Mr Hester is declared to have outlined before the match with 3 others to put a series of bets on him being reserved by the referee.
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The court heard ₤ 2,400 was later on discovered in his bedside drawer.
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The charge declares the 4 males received ₤ 17,333.32 in payments from Bet365 in 2019, and that ₤ 13,583.32 of it was gotten as illegal jackpots.

An alternate variation of the charge alleges they cheated at gambling by placing five bets on Mr Hester being booked and that 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