A PUNTER has launched a legal action to retrieve more than £6,000 in cash held by police investigating an alleged gambling debt fraud.

But a district judge has refused to deal with his claim for the return of the cash until after May 8, when the man, who denies making the bet at the centre of the probe, is due to answer police bail.

District Judge Glynn Jones, sitting at Blackburn Magistrates Court, allowed a police application for a further adjournment of an application under the Police (Property) Act 1897, despite representations by solicitor Daniel King on behalf of David Dudgeon.

Mr King said Mr Gudgeon was on police bail until May 8 while officers investigated complicated matters involving allegations of fraud.

He said in August 2000, a football bet of £10,000 was placed by phone with William Hill using the details of account holder Mr Gudgeon.

The bet lost and Mr Gudgeon, whose address was given in court as care of Forbes Solicitors, was requested by William Hill to make payment.

"He disputed placing the bet and the matter was placed in the hands of the police," said Mr King. "On November 23, 2001, 15 months after the initial bet, he was arrested at his home and various documents, including bank statements and tax returns, were seized along with £6,610 cash."

Mr Gudgeon was interviewed about the single transaction in August 2000 and bailed to return to the police station on February 15.

The police indicated that they intended to carry out scientific analysis of the tape recording of the bet being placed and the tape recording of his interview. On February 15 he was re-bailed until April 22 and on that date bailed again until May 8.

"The police have at no stage indicated that any offence other than the incident from August 2000 is being investigated," said Mr King.

"William Hill say my client owes them £10,000 but the £6,610 cannot be seen as evidence of that or any other offence.

"No money changed hands between William Hill and my client and it has never been explained by the police how they link the money seized to the offence they are investigating."