Detective may still accept job with racing authority

The detective leading an investigation into allegations of race-fixing yesterday admitted that he "may well" accept an offer of employment from the body that brought the matter to the attention of the police. During earlier cross-examination, Mark Manning had been asked whether he had accepted a post in the security department of the British Horseracing Authority, previously known as the Jockey Club. He acknowledged that he had been interviewed twice and offered a job, but said he had not accepted it.

Yesterday he was pressed by George Carter-Stephenson, counsel for Fergal Lynch, whether this meant that he had declined the job, or whether he had left the matter open. "I may well accept the post," Manning said, adding that he had previously been asked only whether he had accepted the job; not whether he had declined it. "I was asked a direct question, to which I gave a direct answer."

Manning and Paul Scotney, the BHA director of security, have denied in evidence that the subject of the detective's imminent retirement from the police, and availability for employment, had been discussed during the investigation.

Lynch is one of six men accused of conspiracy to defraud customers of the online betting exchange, Betfair. They all deny the charges against them.

The case continues.