Latest news with #CraigWilliams
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
On The Punt: Flemington best bets for Saturday June 21, 2025
News Corp form analyst Chris Vernuccio takes a look at the Flemington on Saturday. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET CLEO CAT (R3 No.5): Cleo Cat has taken the next step this prep, winning her first two starts including a Group 3 in Adelaide before beating all but top mare Niance at Caulfield last start. She has Craig Williams engaged for her first attempt down the Flemington straight. NEXT BEST TAKEN (R4 No.1): Taken is flying with three consecutive wins including at the track and distance by three lengths last start. He jumps up in the weights for winning handicap races but takes on mostly benchmark and maiden performers here. He'll make his own luck on the speed with Craig Williams on board. JIMMY THE BEAR (R8 No.3): Jimmy The Bear was too far back from a wide barrier when second to Oh Too Good at Flemington last start. He stays at the track and trip and can settle closer from barrier two.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Craig Williams cops suspension on Stradbroke Handicap pick-up ride
Craig Williams ' late Group 1 pick-up ride on Rothfire has resulted in the champion Victorian jockey being suspended for 14 days. Williams had been set to ride Gary Portelli's mare Kimochi in the Stradbroke Handicap until the Yulong-owned mare injured her tendon on Friday. He was then without a Stradbroke ride but gained one when James McDonald, who has been battling illness, was unable to make the weight on Rothfire. However, the story had a sting in its tail with Williams suspended for careless riding for a back straight incident where Spicy Martini was tightened up. Cejay Graham also came to the attention of stewards and was suspended for 14 days for careless riding on King Kapa in the Hinkler Handicap.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ex-Tory MP among 15 in court to face betting charges
PA Media Fifteen people, including former Tory MP Craig Williams, have appeared in court charged with betting offences linked to the timing of last year's general election. It follows an investigation by the Gambling Commission into alleged betting on the date of the election. Appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday, Williams was among three defendants who gave no indication of a plea at this stage. Twelve others, including Russell George, a former Conservative now independent member of the Welsh Senedd, indicated they would deny the charges. The defendants will appear again at Southwark Crown Court on July 11. On 22 May 2024, Rishi Sunak announced the general election would be held on 4 July that year, overturning previous expectations of an autumn poll. Prosecuting on behalf of the Gambling Commission, Sam Stein KC said Sunak was among those to have given a witness statement in the case. Mr Stein told the court the commission's investigation was launched into "politicians and employees of the Conservative Party, and a former police officer... who had placed bets on the date of the 2024 general election with the benefit of confidential or insider information as to when that date might be". "The prosecution says that placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating," he added. Before the election was called, Williams was the MP for Montgomeryshire and a parliamentary aide to Sunak. He was previously MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017, before he lost his seat to Labour in the election that year. Along with Williams, former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, of Horne in Surrey, and Jacob Willmer, 39, from Richmond, west London, did not indicate a plea. Along with George, those indicating a not guilty plea included Laura Saunders, the former Conservative parliamentary candidate in Bristol North West, and her partner Anthony Lee. The others indicating they would deny the charges included Simon Chatfield, 51, from Farnham, Surrey, Amy Hind, 34, of Loughton, Essex, Anthony Hind, 36, of Loughton, Essex, Thomas James, 38, Charlotte Lang, 36, Iain Makepeace, 47, from Newcastle Upon Tyne, Nick Mason, 51, Paul Place, 54, from Hammersmith, west London and James Ward, 40, of Leeds.
Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Sunak's former aide among 15 in court over ‘election gambling offences'
Rishi Sunak's former aide has appeared among 14 others in court over alleged election gambling offences. Senior Conservatives, including Craig Williams, 39, who served as the Tory MP for Montgomeryshire and Cardiff North, have been charged with cheating at gambling and three counts of enabling or assisting others to cheat on the date of the 2024 general election. Mr Williams, of Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, served as parliamentary private secretary to Mr Sunak during his time as prime minister. At Westminster magistrates court on Friday, Mr Williams appeared wearing a black suit and grey tie alongside 14 others charged with similar offences. Others included former Tory member of Senedd Russell George, 50, and Thomas James, 38, the suspended director of the Welsh Conservatives. The charges come after 'Operation Scott' was launched to investigate alleged gambling by politicians and employees of the Conservative Party in the lead-up to the 2024 general election. Mr Sunak had noted that elections would take place in the second half of the year but had not given a date. Prosecuting on behalf of the Gambling Commission, Sam Stein KC said: 'Operation Scott was an investigation launched by the gambling commission into politicians and employees of the Conservative Party, and a former police officer ... who had placed bets on the date of the 2024 general election with the benefit of confidential or insider information as to when that date might be. 'The prosecution says that placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating.' Mr Williams was first the MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 before he lost his seat to Labour MP Anna McMorrin. He was then elected as the MP for Montgomeryshire at the 2019 general election which he lost in July last year. Before the July 4 election was called, planning took place at Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquarters, the court heard. The 15 defendants are alleged to have placed bets based on confidential information gained from those rooms, or enabling others to place bets by passing that information on. If convicted they could face up to two years in prison for these offences. On Friday, Simon Chatfield, 51, from Farnham, Surrey; Russell George, 50; Amy Hind, 34, of Loughton, Essex; Anthony Hind, 36, of Loughton, Essex; Thomas James, 38; Charlotte Lang, 36; Anthony Lee, 47; Laura Saunders, 37; Iain Makepeace, 47, from Newcastle Upon Tyne; Nick Mason, 51; Paul Place, 53, from Hammersmith, west London; and James Ward, 40, of Leeds, all appeared in court. Former MP Williams along with Jacob Willmer, 39, from Richmond, west London, and former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, of Horne in Surrey, also appeared. The 15 defendants will appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 11.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Former MP accused of cheating at gambling on general election appears in court
Senior Conservatives including a former MP who was an aide of Rishi Sunak have appeared in court accused of cheating by gambling on the date of the 2024 general election. Craig Williams, 39, who served as the Tory MP for Montgomeryshire and Cardiff North, has been charged with cheating at gambling and three counts of enabling or assisting others to cheat. Williams, of Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, served as parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak during his time as prime minister. At Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday, Williams appeared wearing a smart black suit and grey tie alongside 14 others charged with similar offences. Others included former Tory member of Senedd Russell George, 50, and Thomas James, 38, the suspended director of the Welsh Conservatives, both of whom indicated not guilty pleas. The charges come after 'Operation Scott' was launched to investigate gambling by politicians and employees of the Conservative Party in the lead-up to the 2024 general election. Rishi Sunak, who has provided a witness statement in this case, had noted that elections would take place in the second half of the year but had not given a date. Prosecuting on behalf of the Gambling Commission, Sam Stein KC said: 'Operation Scott was an investigation launched by the gambling commission into politicians and employees of the Conservative Party, and a former police officer … who had placed bets on the date of the 2024 general election with the benefit of confidential or insider information as to when that date might be. 'The prosecution says that placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating.' Williams was first the MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 before he lost his seat to Labour MP Anna McMorrin. He was then elected as the MP for Montgomeryshire at the 2019 general election which he lost in July last year. Before the July 4 election was called, planning took place at Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquarters, the court heard. The 15 defendants are alleged to have placed bets based on confidential information gained from those rooms, or enabling others to place bets by passing that information on. If convicted they could face up to two years in prison for these offences. Twelve of the defendants indicated not guilty pleas. On Friday, Simon Chatfield, 51, from Farnham, Surrey; Russell George, 50; Amy Hind, 34, of Loughton, Essex; Anthony Hind, 36, of Loughton, Essex; Thomas James, 38; Charlotte Lang, 36; Anthony Lee, 47; Laura Saunders, 37; Iain Makepeace, 47, from Newcastle Upon Tyne; Nick Mason, 51; Paul Place, 53, from Hammersmith, west London; and James Ward, 40, of Leeds, all indicated they would deny the charges. Former MP Williams along with Jacob Willmer, 39, from Richmond, West London, and former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, of Horne in Surrey, gave no indication of plea. The 15 accused gamblers will appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 11.
