Snooker pro Joe Perry of Chatteris broke the sport’s rules on betting “out of boredom” he told a disciplinary hearing

Perry received a suspended sentence from the sport’s governing body and was fined £2,500. Perry, a professional snooker player since 1992, admitted to the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) that he broke the rules on betting over a four year period from 2009 to 2013.

He placed 193 bets on matches using five different betting accounts in his own name.

A disciplinary committee heard that “from the outset Mr Perry fully admitted betting on snooker over a four year period in contravention of the WPBSA members rules and fully cooperated with the WPBSA inquiry”.

None of these bets involved his own matches but it did include bets on matches in tournaments Mr Perry competed in.

Perry attended the disciplinary hearing “and addressed himself in a clear, uncomplicated and contrite manner,” says the WPBSA.

“He came across as an honest witness who accepted his contraventions of the rules and that there would be consequences.

“He also confirmed that he had stopped betting from 2013 so to a large degree these were historical matters. “

The hearing was told of a letter sent to the WBPSA in which Perry said he had “undertaken all the betting purely out of boredom or distraction.

“He had never bet for financial gain. He expressed regret and for damaging his previously unblemished record as a snooker player.”

The disciplinary committee said they took into account the early admissions, his personal circumstances and his “demeanour and regret”.

The WBSA said the bets in question “were relatively small in value to a total of £2,806.49 over the four year period where he made an overall profit of £832.09.”

A WPBSA spokesman said: “There is no suggestion whatsoever that Mr Perry was doing anything to influence match outcomes or engaged in any corrupt activity, he was solely betting on snooker.”

He was suspended from playing in WPBSA sanctioned events for a period of three months. This suspension is suspended in full until after the 2018 World Championships. He was ordered to pay a fine of £2,500.

The hearing was told Perry had accounts with Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, Bet365, Stan James and William Hill.

Rules governing players’ behaviour in relation to betting were tightened in 2009 and again in 2012 to deter betting by players or their representatives.