[AusRace] Fletch wins

[L.B.Loveday]

Stephen Fletcher fraud trial dismissed for lack of evidence


Nicknamed "The Professor" for his ability to calculate odds, Stephen
Fletcher celebrated a big win against NSW Police yesterday after facing
trial on 78 counts of fraudulently using his friends' betting accounts.

Janet Fife-Yeomans, Exclusive, The Daily Telegraph

Subscriber only

 

 

*	Former racing boss gives evidence in betting fraud trial
<https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/wentworth-courier/top-racing-fi
gure-gives-evidence-in-stephen-fletchers-sydney-fraud-trial/news-story/19f5a
0345ea0ad5dc056f9e05220d490> 

Professional punter Stephen Fletcher celebrated another win yesterday, this
time against the NSW Police when one of the state's biggest- betting fraud
cases was thrown out of court.

Nicknamed "The Professor" for his ability to calculate odds, Mr Fletcher
faced trial on 78 counts of fraudulently using the accounts of friends,
allegedly including two cops, to place bets ranging- from $9 to tens of
thousands.

The high roller, who once pulled off a legal $1 million betting sting,
needed the so-called "bowler" accounts because his own account had been
closed by one of the online betting agencies, Bet365, and restrictions
placed on him by another, Sportingbet, the District Court was told.

 

Stephen Fletcher outside Rockpool Bar and Grill in Sydney. Picture: Sam
Ruttyn

But Judge Sophia Beckett found the prosecution had failed to prove that Mr
Fletcher- had dishonestly obtained a financial advantage by using the
accounts to place bets - because it still depended on whether the horses or
greyhounds won.

It was an embarrassment for the police and the prosecution after a case that
involved raids on the offices of the Homicide Squad, a hearing before the
then Police Integrity Commission and a six-year investigation- involving
extensive telephone taps.

"The financial advantage did not arise until the horse or dog he placed a
bet on won," Judge Beckett said after discharging the jury following- a
four-week trial and directing verdicts of acquittal-. "There is no evidence-
the accused had any influence over that result. Sometimes he won, sometimes
he lost."

The flamboyant Mr Fletcher, 47, celebrated with friends including racing and
sporting stars, at lunch at top Sydney eatery Rockpool with champagne and an
up-market pork chop meal.

"I'm relieved," the prodigious gambler who pocketed more than $330,000 in
winnings through the two-year scheme, said. "I am indebted to my legal
team."

Before yesterday, his biggest win under the scheme came in February 2013
when he got $56,000 from a $1600 wager on Alma's Fury at Warwick Farm.

Judge Beckett said that at its highest, the evidence painted a picture of Mr
Fletcher at the centre of an organised "cat and mouse" game between himself
and the bookmakers where he stayed one step ahead, moving to the next
"bowler" account when the bookmaker became suspicious. Bookies did not like
it because they did not know from whom they were accepting a bet which
prevented them from adjusting their odds accordingly or limiting the bets,
the court was told.

 

Fletcher and brothel owner Eddie Hayson pulled off a $1m betting sting in
2005.

Hayson.

Under Mr Fletcher's scheme, the bets ranged from regional races in Australia
to overseas markets like Hong Kong and allegedly involved the accounts of
one homicide officer, one officer from the Tactical Operations Unit and
friends including Christopher Wylie and Edward Ridgeway, neither of whom
have been charged.

Mr Fletcher's defence team had argued that the people whose accounts he used
had given him authority to operate them and that the accepted practice was
that corporate bookmakers accepted bets irrespective of who placed them
including if they knew or suspected them of being "bowler" accounts-.

The two police officers and another professional gambler allegedly involved
in the scheme have separate trials coming up.

In 2005, Mr Fletcher and brothel owner Eddie Hayson famously pulled off the
$1 million Lucy's Light sting, named after the winning greyhound, on the
Gold Coast by legally manipulating tote prices to create an exaggerated
payout price from corporate bookmakers.

In 2006 the betting partners won an estimated $2 million when they bet on
the Newcastle Knights to lose to the Warriors.

 

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