Detective Denies Lying In Order To Bug Suspect

The chief police investigator in the Kieren Fallon race-fixing trial denied misleading a chief constable to get permission to bug one of the accused.

Acting Detective Inspector Mark Manning said he told a South Yorkshire detective that the fraud was worth £2 million.

But he said he did not know how the words 'netted #2 million' got onto the application for electronic surveillance on Miles Rodgers in Sheffield.

Mr Manning, of City of London police, said the request had to be made by a local detective and was approved by the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire.

At the time he had been under the impression, following information from internet betting exchange Betfair, that #2 million had been made.

He later understood that the true figure was between #2-300,000 and #2 million had been spent on laying bets on horses to lose, he told the Old Bailey.

Peter Kelson, QC, defending Rodgers, asked him: 'You were determined to get these authorities so you misled the Chief Constable? You are lying to the jury?'

Mr Manning replied: 'That is grossly unfair. There was no need to embellish the application.'

Six-times champion jockey Fallon and five others deny plotting to allow 27 horses to lose so Rodgers could win bets on races.

Fallon, 42, formerly of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, but now of Tipperary, Ireland; Fergal Lynch, 29, of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire; and Darren Williams, 29, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, deny the conspiracy between December 2002 and August 2004.

Lynch's brother, Shaun Lynch, 38, of Belfast; professional gambler Rodgers, 38, of Silkstone, South Yorkshire; and barman Philip 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 continues.

(C) PA Sport