Former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield has been sentenced to four months in prison for spot-fixing at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Bowler to serve half of a four-month sentence for spot-fixing
Former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield has been sentenced to four months in prison for spot-fixing at the Old Bailey on Friday.
The 23-year-old, who is the first county cricketer to be prosecuted for spot-fixing, was jailed for one count of accepting or obtaining a corrupt payment to bowl in a way that would allow the scoring of runs.
He will serve half the term in prison and a confiscation order was made for £6,000.
He was paid £6,000 to bowl so that a specific number of runs would be chalked up in the first over of a match between Durham and Essex in September 2009.
It was claimed that Westfield was "targeted" by former Essex team-mate and Pakistan international Danish Kaneria, who set up the deal.
Betrayed trust
Passing sentence, Judge Anthony Morris told Westfield: "I am satisfied that you would have known from the outset that what was being offered was a corrupt payment and that you could and should have refused it.
"I am also satisfied that, if you had any concerns about the approaches being made to you, you had an opportunity to mention them to the team captain or management, or if you were nervous of doing so, at least to your friends within the team. You chose not to do so."
He said the person who made the corrupt payment had used the information to influence either a foreign legal betting market, or an illegal one here or overseas.
The judge went on: "The criminality here is that, for financial gain, you betrayed the trust placed in you to play honestly and to the best of your ability.
"You were trusted to do so by other members of your team, your employers, the supporters of Essex County Cricket Club and the very many followers of the game throughout the world.
"If, because of corrupt payments, it cannot be guaranteed that every player will play to the best of his ability, the reality is that the enjoyment of many millions of people around the world who watch cricket, whether on television or at cricket grounds, will be destroyed."
The Old Bailey heard that he was approached by Kaneria who said that a friend would pay Westfield to concede a certain number of runs.
Inappropriate
Prosecutor Nigel Peters QC told the court that the deal emerged when another Essex player, Tony Palladino, went back to Westfield's Chelmsford flat in September 2009, where the bowler showed him "the most money he had ever seen".
Westfield pleaded guilty last month to one count of accepting or obtaining a corrupt payment to bowl in a way that would allow the scoring of runs.
Mr Kaneria was arrested in connection with the case but later released without charge.
Westfield received an interim suspension order from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The court heard that Kaneria, who first joined Essex in 2005, was warned in 2008 by the ICC that he was keeping "highly inappropriate company".
Mark Milliken-Smith QC, for Westfield, told the court: "It is clear, we submit, that Kaneria and his associates targeted Westfield.
"Westfield was on the verge of the squad, more susceptible for that reason. Less likely perhaps to be able to say no to the club's international star, his future with the club uncertain."
The match was one of the first televised games that Westfield had played in.
Mr Milliken-Smith said Kaneria took Westfield out to dinner with some friends, and said he had a way that the young cricketer could make money more quickly.
Approach
He said Westfield felt "pressured" to become involved as discussions intensified.
The day before the game, the fast bowler, then 21, was told that people had bet money on the match and that if he did not agree to the deal they would lose out.
The court was told that other Essex players heard Kaneria mentioning spot-fixing but dismissed what he was saying as "banter".
Varun Chopra said that in a phone call in August 2009 Kaneria told him "There's ways of making money, you don't have to lose a game".
He ignored the alleged approach.
Mr Milliken-Smith told the court that despite these rumours at Essex County Cricket Club, a "blind eye" was turned, and opportunities to report the allegations were initially missed.
Mr Milliken-Smith told the court that Westfield, who has played the sport since he was six, was "an Essex cricketer through and through".
He said: "He bitterly regrets what he has done, he is utterly ashamed."
Mr Milliken-Smith added: "He is a life-long and passionate cricket fan and player. In fact, he knows no other love.
"The shame and regret he feels is evidenced at least in part by his admissions as to his involvement to this court."
It is alleged that Kaneria was due to receive £4,000 as part of the deal concerning the Durham match.
Essex police said there were no plans to interview Kaneria again although the investigation would remain under review.
