Greyhound trainer jailed for cheating at gambling
03 December 2015
A man who cheated at gambling by drugging greyhounds has been imprisoned for four-and-a-half months.
Christopher Paul Mosdall, 55, of Brentwood, Essex, admitted administering the drug Cyclizine to two dogs between 1 April and 16 August of last year.
By giving Cyclizine to Pennys Swann and Ticco Foods, Mosdall manipulated the outcome of races and ensured the dogs did not run as fast as they could have.
Mosdall’s illegal tactics were captured in a BBC Panorama documentary and the case was prosecuted by the Gambling Commission.
Judge Peter Lodder QC, sitting at Kingston Crown Court today, said: “Most of the evidence comes from covert recordings from the BBC Panorama programme in which you were quoted as saying: ‘if you get caught you’re out the door, but you take your chance’. You later bragged about being the ‘biggest crook in Wimbledon’.
“You knew all too well that it strikes at the very heart of gambling. Ordinary gamblers are entitled to assume they have a fair chance and to assume that betting markets are open and above board. Your behaviour corrupts the process and significantly damages that trust.”
Following the hearing Nick Tofiluk, Commission Director of Regulation, said: “The Gambling Commission is committed to keeping crime out of gambling and this case shows that we will act against those seeking to corrupt the integrity of sports betting and associated sports.
“We recognise the importance of working with sports governing bodies in such cases and recognise the support provided by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain and the BBC.”
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Last updated: 1 February 2021
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