First pictures of men accused in Fallon trial released

The first undercover pictures of the men accused of a £2m (€2.86m) race-fixing scam involving Kieren Fallon were released today.

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 today.

He was called 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% 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 (aged 42) formerly of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, but now of Tipperary, Ireland, Fergal Lynch (aged 29) of Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and jockey Darren Williams (aged 29) of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, deny the charges.

Shaun Lynch (aged 38) of Belfast, Rodgers (aged 38) of Silkstone, South Yorkshire, and Sherkle, (aged 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 tomorrow.