Hibs star on fraud charge

HIBS footballer Garry O’Connor has been charged with fraud over an insurance claim for his crashed £100,000 Ferrari.

The 28-year-old Scotland player has been accused of attempting to fiddle the claim which followed an accident in East Lothian earlier this year. The Ferrari Spider F1 was found empty after smashing into a bridge at Meadowmill in Tranent, at around 7am on April 14 this year, about three miles from his then home in Port Seton.

Initial reports to police suggested an acquaintance of Mr O’Connor was driving.

A source said at the time: “The car was completely battered. The driver was lucky to escape without serious injury.”

Insurance brokers are said to have spotted inconsistencies in O’Connor’s claim and called the police. The player’s agent Martin Reilly was today quoted saying the fraud case was in the hands of his lawyers.

A neighbour said: “After the Ferrari crash he downscaled his cars. They’ve been getting less and less glamorous.”

O’Connor was accused last week of possessing cocaine and running away from police.

He did not appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and the case was continued.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: “A 28-year-old man has been charged in connection with an alleged attempted fraud. A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.”