Former Hammer fraud case dismissed

A former Hammer accused of gambling £16,000 using a card stolen from a pensioner has had the case against him dismissed. Ex-West Ham winger Blair Turgott was accused of withdrawing the cash and exchanging it for chips during a night at the Playboy casino in Mayfair.

Jurors at Southwark Crown Court failed to reach a verdict last week.

Turgott denied fraud and converting criminal property. The Crown Prosecution Service has until Friday 2 March to decide if it wants to seek a retrial. Turgott, who is now signed to non-league Maidstone United, cashed out £900 in profit at the end of the night in 2016. The card used by Mr Turgott, from Bromley, was stolen from 85-year-old Peter Dixon on 30 September 2016.

Turgott claimed he was given Mr Dixon’s card and PIN number by his gambling friend Ali, who owed him for help with a Ugandan property development. The court heard he had showed Mr Turgott a WhatsApp conversation which purported to show Mr Dixon giving permission for the use of his card.