Phone company boss ‘recorded claiming call records used in Rio Ferdinand’s drugs test case paid for’

The boss of an special mobile mobile phone firm has reportedly boasted about how his firm can modify mobile mobile phone records for his wealthy shoppers – and statements hundreds was compensated to a Vodafone employee for the mobile phone records of footballer Rio Ferdinand throughout an investigation into his missed prescription drugs test.

John Shepherd, who operates Activity Mobile, was recorded declaring that a magic formula payment of £20,000 was compensated to a Vodafone employee for evidence crucial to an FA probe into the former Manchester United and England defender, the Instances today reports.

As aspect of an undercover investigation, the paper also reports that Shepherd claimed that he served Athletics Direct operator Mike Ashley, who also owns Premier League facet Newcastle United, throughout his civil courtroom fight with a former enterprise associate.

The Instances reports that it understands Mr Ashley and Mr Ferdinand categorically deny the offers by Mr Shepherd, who denies any wrongdoing and earning the statements – which are said to be contained in an undercover recording attained by the Instances. 

MailOnline contacted representatives for all a few males for comment, but as of this morning experienced not received a response.

John Shepherd, who runs Sport Mobile, was recorded claiming that a secret payment of £20,000 was paid to a Vodafone employee for evidence key to an FA probe into Rio Ferdinand (pictured), the Times today reports

John Shepherd, who operates Activity Mobile, was recorded declaring that a magic formula payment of £20,000 was compensated to a Vodafone employee for evidence crucial to an FA probe into Rio Ferdinand (pictured), the Instances today reports

As part of an undercover investigation, the paper also reports Shepherd's claim that he helped Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley (pictured), who also owns Premier League side Newcastle United, during his civil court battle with a former business associate

As aspect of an undercover investigation, the paper also reports Shepherd’s assert that he served Athletics Direct operator Mike Ashley (pictured), who also owns Premier League facet Newcastle United, throughout his civil courtroom fight with a former enterprise associate

Section of the Instances report relates to an incident in 2003 when Rio Ferdinand, then an England worldwide and the Premiership’s – now Premier League – most costly defender in football, missed a prescription drugs test in September that yr. 

Ferdinand claimed he experienced forgotten about the test amid a house transfer, and experienced long gone browsing, but later contacted the club to give to choose the test.

He delivered a sample two times later – which turned out to be detrimental.

In December 2003, he was banned for 8 months, fined £50,000 and ordered him to fork out charges approximated at about £250,000 pursuing a two-working day Soccer Affiliation disciplinary hearing into the demand of lacking the prescription drugs test.

The unbiased tribunal found Mr Ferdinand responsible of misconduct soon after he failed to choose the test at United’s Carrington education floor, in spite of remaining chosen to give a sample to Uk Activity doping officers.

Nevertheless a crucial problem in the hearing, and soon after, was the defender’s use of a mobile mobile phone, which he claimed he experienced made use of to connect with Manchester United’s group health practitioner. There was also queries elevated about whether or not his mobile was on or off at the time. 

In December 2003, Ferdinand (pictured in 2002) was banned for eight months, fined £50,000 and ordered him to pay costs estimated at about £250,000 following a two-day Football Association disciplinary hearing into the charge of missing the drugs test

In December 2003, Ferdinand (pictured in 2002) was banned for 8 months, fined £50,000 and ordered him to fork out charges approximated at about £250,000 pursuing a two-working day Soccer Affiliation disciplinary hearing into the demand of lacking the prescription drugs test

A delay in the FA obtaining Mr Ferdinand’s mobile phone records sparked FA officers to take into consideration charging the defender with wilfully evading a prescription drugs test.

And in the FA tribunal’s 37-web site judgment, released seventeen times soon after the panel declared the ban, it instructed the panel did not imagine Mr Ferdinand experienced simply forgotten about the test. 

Shepherd has now claimed to clients that a Vodafone employee was paid £22,500 for phone records used in Mr Ferdinand's case, the Times reports. Mr Ferdinand’s former agent however has dismissed the claims as ‘bravado’

Shepherd has now claimed to shoppers that a Vodafone employee was compensated £22,500 for mobile phone records made use of in Mr Ferdinand’s situation, the Instances reports. Mr Ferdinand’s former agent nonetheless has dismissed the statements as ‘bravado’

Shepherd has now claimed to shoppers that a Vodafone employee was compensated £22,500 for mobile phone records made use of in Mr Ferdinand’s situation, the Instances reports.

Mr Ferdinand’s former agent nonetheless has dismissed the statements as ‘bravado’.

Mr Shepherd is also documented to have claimed he ‘protected’ mobile phone records that Mike Ashley experienced been questioned to offer in a High Courtroom fight with his former enterprise associate Jeffrey Blue in 2017.

The situation, which Mr Ashley won, was introduced by Mr Jeffrey over statements Mr Ashley experienced agreed to fork out him £15million if his company’s share value reached £8.

Mr Ashley claimed it was ‘banter’ and that no formal settlement experienced been made. A choose sided with him, indicating no-one particular would have believed his comments were ‘serious’.

During the situation, Athletics Mobile was questioned to offer mobile phone records for Mr Ashley, but said they were unable to.

Former employees and shoppers instructed the Instances that they imagine Activity Mobile’s devices could be made use of to modify billing information for other shoppers, though an industry skilled said it was ‘easy’ to modify records if asked for, the paper reports.