Melbourne Court-Sider Is Son Of London Police Officer

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 23rd January 2014

Melbourne Court-Sider Is Son Of London Police Officer

epa04035776 Rafael Nadal of Spain serves the ball to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their quarter final match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2014. Nadal won the match. EPA/NARENDRA SHRESTHA |

The British man charged by Melbourne Police with ‘court-siding’ or sending live point details from the Australian Open to his on-line betting agency Sporting Data Limited, is the son of a serving Metropolitan Police officer in London.

If any agency can get live point details just a few seconds before they come through the official channels, it gives them the ability to change the betting odds and that could result in millions of dollars.

Daniel Thomas Dobson, aged 22, was arrested last week at Melbourne Park following intelligence received by Tennis Australia and the Tennis Integrity Unit. His details were passed on to Melbourne Police. He is accused of using a device hidden in his shorts to send the information and is believed to be one of a six person group who travel the world to send live results of points won at tennis tournaments directly to the betting agency.

David Galbally QC, the lawyer appointed to defend Dobson, today told the Melbourne Magistrates Court his client was seeking to have the charges dropped. But prosecutors rejected submission and the case will reconvene in March.

Dobson wants to return to England in the weeks before the case is heard and according to Galbally, he will spend the time living with his father, Detective Inspector Tim Dobson. The lawyer insisted the court could therefore have confidence the defendant would return to Australia to face the charge

Melbourne prosecutor Luke Excell informed the court that Dobson had previously been ordered to leave the tournament in Auckland, New Zealand after being apprehended ‘court-siding.’

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge allowed Dobson to return Britain on a surety of $Aus 10,000.

Topics: 10sballs, Australian Open, Melbourne, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Thomas Dobson