TW@T REPORTER pt 1

Conspiracy case enters third week

By Charlie Brooks

DAILY TELEGRAPH online  22/10/2007

Entry into the public gallery at the central criminal court, or the Old Bailey as we ex-cons affectionately call it, is a throwback to sports stadiums of a decade ago. This may not be totally accidental as the feeling one gets while sitting there is that of reluctant tolerance.
The staircase leading up to the galleries of the twelve courts is shabby and cramped. This is noticeable because, inevitably, one has to queue on the stairs while the bolshie staff search your bags, empty your pockets and confiscate your chicken sandwich. But, maybe I would be as rude and miserable as they are if I had to stand on that staircase all day?
Some bloke pushed past me in the queue on Thursday. If I'd been at the church fete waiting my turn to buy a sponge cake I might have sorted him out. But there is a murder case going on down the corridor and he looked like he could well have been the full-brother to the accused, so I just muttered "hmmm".
A mobile phone found about your person in the public gallery carries a custodial sentence of two years. So the guy who has 'the caff' over the road from the court keeps it for you if you give him a pound. Thirty odd seats in twelve galleries; nice business. Hardly surprising that the central criminal court doesn't offer the same service, though. As far as my nose is concerned, they don't even bother to clean the urinals that often.
Known incorrectly as the 'Kieren Fallon trial', the conspiracy case to defraud Betfair customers by three jockeys, a barman, a driver and a gambler has entered its third week.
Two policemen were in the dock last Thursday. One of the defence QCs basically accused them of telling a whopping load of porky pies The jury have to decide whether it was coincidence or not as to whether PC Gibbs' statement, which was written three months after and allegedly without reference to PC Worster's, contained some expressions that were the same. Sorry about the court speak, it's quite catching and a legal necessity if I'm to avoid sending senior Daily Telegraph executives to jail for contempt of court.
PC Worster is probably brilliant at jumping over walls, grabbing armed robbers and saying 'make my day, punk'. But he looked decidedly uncomfortable speaking in public. If anyone ever said 'don't put your son on the stage, Mrs Worster' they were spot on.
The identical expressions, such as 'the envelope appeared to be full,' which were in both policemen's statements, will surely be seen as vital as far as jockey Darren Williams is concerned.
These statements refer to a white envelope, which may, or may not, have been in the Bridge Inn hotel in Yorkshire when Williams met another accused individual, Miles Rodgers. It also may, or may not, have been the same envelope which may or may not have been found under Williams' bed. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned porn mags?
There is also an issue of a 'third man'. [Graham Greene would love this trial.] He was seen to pick up an envelope whilst under observation in the bar of the hotel, but then was, or wasn't, carrying it, depending on which police version you read, when he appeared in the hotel car park. And just in case you haven't had enough of this envelope, which apparently is 10 x 6 x 2 inches when full of items; would it have had the same style and appearance a few years later when shown to PC Gibbs after the forensic boys had poured finger print stuff all over it and maybe made it into a paper plane?
'Objection, your honour'. 'Objection granted. Apologise Mr Brooks.'
'Sorry mílud. I take back any suggestion that the forensic boys would muck about like that'. Sadly I haven't heard any of that sort of stuff, although the judge is a bit of a wag.
We heard the unfortunate story of one Betfair customer who had backed some brute in one of the alleged fixed races and done his money. One of the QCs asked him if he had expected the horse to be trying. He replied oh yes. I myself have greyhounds and they are always trying. A wave of incredulity swept through the public gallery. How did he know that he'd never owned a lazy greyhound? 'Best of luck in the future' the judge beamed. I'm wondering if the judge had a punt on the rugby. Yes, that rugby match. Whenever I'm in court it's all he seems to talk about.