Ex-Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield admits spot betting charge

A former Essex county cricketer has admitted a corruption charge over spot fixing relating to a 40-over one-day game against Durham.

Mervyn Westfield, 23, admitted accepting or obtaining a corrupt payment to aid betting at a game on 5 September 2009.

The Old Bailey heard he had agreed to bowl his first over in a way that would let Durham score a set number of runs.

Westfield was warned he could face jail when he is sentenced in February.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

He was granted unconditional bail until sentencing on 10 February.

A separate charge of assisting another person to cheat at gambling was ordered to lie on file.

Judge Anthony Morris told the court he understood that Westfield had agreed to concede 12 runs in exchange for £6,000 but only 10 runs were in fact conceded during the first over.

The judge also said that the alleged corruptor of Westfield was a person known by people involved in cricket.

Westfield is the first domestic cricketer in recent years to be convicted of corruption charges relating to the sport.

It follows the jailing of three Pakistani cricketers and an agent last year over spot fixing during a Test Match between England and Pakistan.