Three people linked to the Conservative Party have received suspended sentences for using confidential information to bet on the date of the 2024 UK general election before it was publicly announced.
Anthony Lee, who was the party’s director of campaigning at the time, his wife Laura Lee, a Conservative candidate, and former party staffer Amy Hind were sentenced for offences under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005. Laura Lee’s maiden name was Laura Saunders.
The bets were placed amid speculation about when the election would be held. Rishi Sunak announced the date on 22 May 2024. The Gambling Commission said the three had used inside information to bet before that announcement.
The case became a political embarrassment for the Conservatives in the run-up to the election and brought scrutiny to the integrity of betting markets.
Sentences and wider proceedings
Anthony Lee received a 10-month, two-week sentence, while Laura Lee was sentenced to four months and two weeks. Hind received a six-month sentence. All three sentences were suspended for 12 months.
The trio were also ordered to complete unpaid community service and barred from using online gambling sites for 12 months. Anthony and Laura Lee must each pay £1,000 in prosecution costs.
At sentencing, the judge said Anthony and Laura Lee had placed bets worth more than £2,000 that would have returned £23,000. Hind placed four bets and tried to place three more, which would have returned £26,000.
The sentences follow an investigation that resulted in 15 people being charged over their involvement. Other people charged with cheating offences under the Gambling Act are due to face trials in 2027 and 2028.
Former Conservative MP Craig Williams, the most prominent figure caught up in the scandal, pleaded guilty earlier this year and is expected to be sentenced later. The case came to light after Ladbrokes flagged Williams as a Politically Exposed Person and referred his bets to the Gambling Commission.
Gambling Commission calls case a first
Katharine Diamond, general counsel at the Gambling Commission, described the case as “significant” and “a first of its kind” for the regulator, saying it demonstrated its commitment to protecting betting market integrity.
“Betting markets must be fair and must not be undermined by people using confidential information for their own benefit,” Diamond said.
She added that the convictions showed the importance of protecting gambling market integrity and taking action where there is evidence of cheating. The Gambling Commission would continue to investigate suspected criminal activity and use its powers to protect that integrity, she said.
