Fallon update.....

my miss storm cat · #1 10-16-2007, 08:50 AM

RP...

Head of security accused of being out to get Fallon

by Paul Eacott

RACING'S security chief Paul Scotney was on Monday accused at the Old Bailey of making a drunken claim that he was out to get Kieren Fallon.

The BHA head of security was said to have made the pledge at a public function last November, which resulted in a complaint to police. Hedenied the claim in court.

Scotney, who spent 27 years as a police officer before joining the Jockey Club in November 2003, became the latest prosecution witness to receive a rough ride during cross-examination in the race-fixing trial in an explosivesession in Court 12 on Monday.

The man charged with “protecting the integrity of British racing” was forced into an embarrassing cul-de-sac after repeatedly saying he could not recall having conversations with either investigating officers or high-profile witnesses, including Australian steward Ray Murrihy, and he also admitted that evidence central to the case against Fallon and five others had been destroyed.

Fallon, weighing-room colleagues Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, professional gambler Miles Rodgers and two other men, Shaun Lynch and Philip Sherkle, all face charges of conspiracy to defraud Betfair customers.

Rodgers is also charged with an offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act. All six deny the charges.

Christopher Sallon QC, representing Shaun Lynch, said that police received a complaint in November last year from Buckinghamshire trainer Alan Jarvis about a remark made by an allegedly drunk Scotney that he was out to “get Fallon”.

Sallon put it to Scotney that, as the individual charged with keeping racing “pure”, it was important that he was seen to be independent.

Sallon told the court that Jarvis claimed Scotney had said that night that he “would get Kieren Fallon” if it was the last thing he could do.

“I would not have said that, and I would not have been drunk at a function like that,” Scotney said.

The court heard that the following afternoon, November 22, Detective Inspector Mark Manning, one of the officers at City of London police involved in the investigation into the 27 races, made a telephone call to Scotney informing him a complaint had been made.

Scotney was also questioned at length about his relationship with Manning, who last month was interviewed for a position in the BHA's security department.
Although Scotney was insistent that neither Manning's retirement from the force nor any vacant situations in the security department were discussed until March this year, Peter Kelson QC, representing Rodgers, put it to Scotney that talk of Manning joining the BHA after his retirement from the police force had in fact taken place much earlier.

Scotney said that he “only specifically recalls it being discussed in March”.

However, Kelson suggested to Scotney that in a meetingbetween Rodgers and his solicitor on June 6 last year, his client had said that he understood that Manning had met with, and been offered a job by, the BHA's precursor, the Horseracing Regulatory Authority.

“I am sorry sir, I really don't know where that came from,” Scotney responded.

It was also put to Scotney that the BHA had been “dangling a carrot” of funding towards the investigation to ensure that the City of London police took it on as it “was costing quite a lot of taxpayers' money”, and that City of London police were offered £250,000.

Scotney responded: “They were keen to take this on. There was a lot of thought as to where we would go. I do not recall us going to any other force.”

George Carter-Stephenson QC, representing Fergal Lynch, was also keen to establish why someone with former detective chief superintendent Scotney's extensive experience in criminal investigation and intelligence work did not take steps to preserve the material relating to stewards' inquiries involving Cd Europe and Ballinger Ridge – the only two races of the 27 under investigation that sparked inquiries on the day.

Only the summary of the stewards' inquiry published in the Racing Calendar remains and Scotney said: “I hadno reason to know that evidence would be destroyed.”

Admitting that there had been an “element of presumption” and that “in hindsight it was not good”, Scotney added that he had no reason to believe that it was routine for records to be destroyed twoyears after stewards' inquiries had taken place.

He added: “We responded to requests from the police. Maybe we weren't asked for those at the time. I don't remember a conversation about the Cd Europe race – I do the others.”

Carter-Stephenson alsotried to establish why Scotney appeared to be unable to produce any notes from meetings he had with investigating officers, or with Murrihy in meetings that took place in both Australia and the UK.

Scotney informed him that his briefcase was stolen during a burglary at the Jockey Club headquarters on Shaftesbury Avenue in 2005 and that, although he did not know for sure, it was “possible” there were notes relating to those meetings among the belongings taken.

The trial continues.

NoChanceToDance · #2 10-16-2007, 05:39 PM

From Racing Post........
Undercover officer in cat-and- mouse chase with Rodgers, court told

by Paul Eacott

AN undercover police officer who tailed professional gambler Miles Rodgers for more than 140 miles as part of a surveillance operation on Tuesday told the Old Bailey how he pretended to be a drink driver after he feared his cover had been blown.

Detective Constable Robert Stirling, of Cityof London police, told the jury at the race-fixing trial involving six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon how he followed a silver Mercedes driven by Rodgers from South Yorkshire to Cambridgeshire on May 26, 2004 before being involved in a cat-and- mousechase with the vehicle through the dark lanes of the Suffolk countryside in the early hours of the following morning.

The court heard how Stirling's unmarked police car encountered the Mercedes, which contained Rodgers and three other men, near the village of Cowlinge – where Fallon lived at the time – shortly after 1.00am.

The car, which is alleged to have been driven Rodgers, and contained two of the other men facing charges on conspiracy to defraud, Shaun Lynch and Philip Sherkle, and a man the prosecution claim is Daniel Kinahan, was said to have turned off the Newmarket Road on to a country track when being pursued by Stirling, allowing Stirling to pass him.

Moments later, Stirling was aware the Mercedes was behind him, and when he himself left the main road and turned off his engine and lights, the Mercedes “came right up behind” him and sat for about “60 seconds” with its headlights on full beam.

Stirling told the court how he then headed back to Newmarket, where he informed a colleague of the incident. As he stood at the kerbside, he said the Mercedes drove alongside. “I could see Miles Rodgers,” Stirling said, “he was driving the car.”

The jury also heard how the silver Mercedes effectively blocked in Stirling's car as it pulled upsides him, with the officer confirming the occupants were “eyeballing” him. And when Stirling found the Mercedes was still behind him shortly after 1.30am as he drove along Newmarket High Street, he decided to take evasive action.

“I saw a marked traffic vehicle at a service area, so I purposefully accelerated over a mini roundabout on the offside and went at speed up the hill towards the racetrack.”

Stirling said he was attempting to draw attention to himself so as to appear as if he was not a police officer, adding that when he was pulled over he asked the uniformed officers to carry out a breath test and check over his car. As this was occurring, he told the court he saw the silver Mercedes drive past. Asked who was at the wheel, he responded: “It was the same man. . . it was Miles Rodgers.”

The jury also saw surveillance footage from the Westgate Hotel in Harrogate on the afternoon of the 26th, as well as the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket later that evening, from where Shaun Lynch made numerous phone calls and sent text messages to Fallon prior to the incident involving DC Stirling.

Earlier, doubts had been raised over some of the police surveillance at Leicester racecourse on May 18 2004 .

Pc Mark Lowe, told the jury that he saw two white men leave the racecourse and get into Rodgers' Mercedes. One was about 5ft 6ins while the other was 6ft.

Lowe claimed co-defendant Shaun Lynch got into the car, with Rodgers at the wheel, and was followed several minutes later by two other unnamed men. They all drove to Leicester airport.

However, Christopher Sallon QC, for Shaun Lynch, claimed the officer was mistaken, and that he had actually seen two short men, Seb Sanders and Darryll Holland, who are both about 5ft 3ins.

Sallon also suggested the two riders were joined by Fallon and, in total, there were five men in the car, rather than four, as recorded by the police. He said: “I'm going to suggest that you are just wrong about it and you have missed a crucial piece of observation, which was that Kieren Fallon was one of those who got into the car and all of the men, save for the driver, got into the car at the same time.”

Lowe replied: “What I saw is in my statement.”

John Kelsey-Fry QC, representing Fallon, also challenged the surveillance evidence on the same night. According to the police log, when Shaun Lynch called Rodgers on his mobile phone at 8.49pm that night he was already in the Mercedes with Rodgers.

Kelsey-Fry argued that it was a “matter of common sense” that Shaun Lynch got into the car after 8.49pm, otherwise Rodgers would have been sitting next to him when Lynch called.

Rodgers, Sherkle and Shaun Lynch, Fallon and his weighing room colleagues Fergal Lynch and Darren Williams, all deny charges of conspiring to defraud Betfair customers.

Rodgers also denies concealing the proceeds of crime.

The trial continues.

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So Rodgers and Co were close to Fallon's house at about 1am. If Fallon wasn't involved with them or there was nothing 'fishy' going on, why would they be seemingly going to see him at that time.

Then start following the policeman who was orginally following them if they weren't up to something?

Fallon is involved, i think there is little doubting that, but is there enough evidence to show that.

NoChanceToDance · #3 10-17-2007, 12:51 PM

Jury shown surveillance pictures of accused men

by Shenai Raif
.

THE first undercover pictures of the men accused of a £2 million race-fixing scam involving Kieren Fallon were released on Wednesday.

The surveillance pictures show alleged syndicate boss Miles Rodgers meeting an Irish businessman who had flown in from Spain and then travelling to Newmarket, where Fallon lived.

The images were shown to the jury at the Old Bailey where six-times champion jockey Fallon, Rodgers and four other men deny conspiring to fix races to make horses lose so they could win on bets.

The prosecution has alleged that Fallon angered a crooked betting syndicate run by Rodgers after he won the Lockinge Stakes on Russian Rhythm on May 15, 2004, instead of losing.

Jonathan Caplan, QC, said that following a concerted effort to confront Fallon, Dublin-based Daniel Kinahan, flew into Leeds Bradford airport on May 26 and was met by Rodgers.

Mr Kinahan, who the court has been told was not accused of involvement in the conspiracy, was driven to the West Park Hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, by Rodgers and joined by Shaun Lynch and Philip Sherkle.

Later, Shaun Lynch and Rodgers met at a nearby hotel, The Majestic, where Lynch is alleged to have texted Fallon.

The court was told they were joined by Lynch's brother, jockey Fergal Lynch, and they all left together.

Later that night, Rodgers and Shaun Lynch arrived at the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket, Suffolk, and checked into rooms booked for them under false names.

They were then joined by Sherkle and Mr Kinahan.

The prosecution alleges they then went on a late night drive towards Fallon's Suffolk home before spotting an unmarked police car following them.

Darryll Holland became the first jockey to give evidence in the case on Wednesday.

He wascalled to tell the court about an incident at Leicester on May 18.

He said he was due to give lift to Newmarket to Fallon and fellow jockey Seb Sanders in his private plane after racing at Leicester racecourse.

The taxi booked to take them to the local airport failed to turn up and as Mr Holland looked for it, Fallon told him they could get a lift in another car.

But during the 10 minute ride there was no conversation, Mr Holland told the jury.

Mr Holland said: "Normally when you get in the car, you are introduced. I think it was a bit strange but nobody spoke to me and I did not speak to them." When they left the car after arriving at the airport, Mr Holland said he looked back and saw Fallon speaking to the two men.

"It was a matter of seconds," he said. "I said to him 'come on mate, we have got to get back'."

Mr Holland was asked if he thought Fallon knew the men.

He provoked laughter in court when he replied: "I am not 100 per cent sure if he knew them but you are taught at an early age not to get into cars with strangers - so I assume he knew them."

The prosecution say the two men in the Mercedes were Rodgers and Shaun Lynch and that they were attempting to speak to Fallon following his win on Russian Rhythm.

It is alleged that the six defendants were involved in a conspiracy with others between December 2002 and September 2004 to defraud online betting exchange Betfair customers and other punters by plotting to fix 27 races.

Fallon, 42, formerly of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, but now of Tipperary, Ireland, Fergal Lynch, 29, of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and jockey Darren Williams, 29, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, deny the charges.

Shaun Lynch, 38, of Belfast, Rodgers, 38, of Silkstone, South Yorkshire, and Sherkle, 42, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, also plead not guilty.

Rodgers also denies concealing the proceeds of crime. All the defendants are on bail.

The trial was adjourned to Thursday.

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Not sure about anyone else, but that sure doesn't sound good for Fallon what Darryll Holland said in court today.

A fellow jockeys word will count for a lot in this case, i imagine.