High profile gambler faces trial over 78 fraud charges
Seventy intercepted phone calls played in court allegedly recorded one of Sydney’s biggest gamblers joking about a scheme which saw him illegally pocket $330,000. See what else the court heard.
Wentworth Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wentworth Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Calls intercepted by police allegedly caught one of Sydney’s highest rollers openly taunting a betting agency worker about gambling again under another account after his was suspended, a court has heard
Stephen Fletcher, 47, is facing trial on 78 charges of fraudulently using the accounts of friends to place bets ranging from $9 to tens of thousands.
According to documents tendered to court, Fletcher allegedly pocketed more than $330,000 in winnings through the fraudulent scheme.
In one of 70 intercepted phone calls played to a Downing Centre District Court jury on Thursday, police say Fletcher could be heard brazenly telling a customer service worker for a betting agency he would “just use another account” after they informed him that his would be suspended.
“I guess I’ll just bet again then,” Fletcher allegedly said.
Police allege other calls played to the jury recorded Fletcher posing as a friend to access a Bet365 account and openly joking about being banned.
“I guess (account username) is in massive trouble,” one man can be overhead laughing.
The bets spanned a two-year period and ranged from regional races in Australia to overseas markets like Hong Kong, according to court documents.
Fletcher’s biggest win came in February 23, 2013, when he scored $56,000 from a $1600 wager on Alma’s Fury at Warwick Farm race six.
That bet and 77 others, are believed to be what alerted authorities to a relatively unsophisticated scheme to bypass suspensions from betting agencies.
Each of the 78 charges attracts a maximum jail term of 10 years.
The trial before Judge Sophia Beckett continues, and could run up to five weeks.
News tips? Email: anton.rose@news.com.au