Race-fix case officer denies burying evidence

A detective in the Kieren Fallon race-fixing trial today denied trying to bury evidence potentially useful to the defence.

Detective Constable Stephen Gibbs said he had made a mistake in not giving defence legal teams copies of notes of a police meeting with Channel 4 racing pundit Jim McGrath.

He had examined a colleague’s notebook, but could not explain why he missed the section where Mr McGrath made favourable comments about jockeys’ performances, he told the Old Bailey.

Dc Gibbs said he may have flicked through the pages quickly because he was busy or some pages may have been stuck together.

He added: “I have made a mistake. Why? I do not know, but I have. It certainly was not a deliberate act.”

George Carter-Stephenson QC, defending jockey Fergal Lynch, asked: “You have been caught out trying to bury potentially useful evidence helpful to the defence?”

Dc Gibbs replied: “I would not do something like that.”

The court has been told that the notes were given to the defence after the trial started in September, following requests.

Acting Detective Inspector Mark Manning, who made the notes, has told the jury that he had failed to get Mr McGrath’s notes before he was asked to make a statement about other aspects of races.

Six men deny plotting to prevent 27 horses from racing on their merits to prevent them winning and resulting in punters being cheated.

Fallon, 42, formerly of Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, but now of Tipperary, Ireland; 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 Miles 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.