Essex cricketer admits spot betting fix

[Rocksuperstar]

From BBC

A former Essex county cricketer has admitted a corruption charge relating to a 40-over one-day game against Durham.
Mervyn Westfield, 23, admitted accepting or obtaining a corrupt payment to aid spot betting on a match on 5 September 2009.
The Old Bailey heard he had agreed to bowl his first over in a way that would let Durham score a set number of runs.
Westfield was warned he could face jail when he is sentenced in February.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
'Offered £6,000' He was granted unconditional bail until sentencing on 10 February.
A separate charge of assisting another person to cheat at gambling was ordered to lie on file.
Judge Anthony Morris told the court he understood that Westfield had agreed to concede 12 runs in exchange for £6,000 but only 10 runs were in fact conceded during the first over.
The judge also said that the person who offered Westfield the money was known by people involved in cricket.
Westfield is believed to be the first domestic cricketer in recent years to be convicted of corruption charges relating to the sport.
It follows the jailing of three Pakistani cricketers and an agent last year over spot fixing during a Test Match between England and Pakistan.
'Think again' Spot betting involves wagers on specific events or incidents in a game and is very popular with gamblers across the world.
However an illegal element called spot fixing developed when sports people were bribed to fix events so a few people in the know could place bets at high odds to make money by cheating.
Essex and Kent police investigated allegations that this activity was being carried out in county cricket.
In the Westfield case the police forces said they were helped by the International Cricket Council, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Essex County Cricket Club and the UK Gambling Commission.
A spokesman said the prosecution was the first use of prevention of corruption legislation relating to a sporting event.
Det Sgt Paul Lopez said: "This was a ground breaking case and highly complex.
"We are pleased that Mervyn Westfield has admitted the charge and we hope that this sends a strong message to professional sportsmen and women around the country.
"If they intend to get involved in spot fixing, or think that match fixing is not a crime, then they need to think again."
Both Essex County Cricket Club and the ECB declined to comment

Well, the lid's off now - lets see what else they dig up now.

Granted, not on the scale of the Pakistani internationals, but it's something that's been mumbled about for ages which, until the recent court cases, hasn't garnered enough concern to warrant widespread investigation or exposure.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

This **** played for Wanstead and Snaresbrook in a cup game against us last season, got 3 wickets. Technically we should be reinstated and declared champions!