Former Hibs star Lewis Horner given suspended eight-match ban for betting rule breach

Former Hibs full-back Lewis Horner has received a suspended eight-match ban for a string of betting offences - but will not serve any punishment if he proves he has beaten his gambling problem with the help of addiction support services.

The 25-year-old - who now plays for Inverness - admitted breaching the Scottish Football Association's zero-tolerance betting rules both in the current season and in the 2011-12 campaign, when he played for East Stirlingshire on loan from the Hibees.

Horner placed 12 bets in 2011-12, including two accumulators which featured bets against his own club, and placed 343 gambles this season, including one accumulator which featured a bet against a team from his own club''.

An SFA disciplinary tribunal issued the eight-match ban but stated it would only be applied if Horner failed to comply with three conditions: that he does not breach the betting rules again in the next 18 months; that he attends for treatment, support or counselling at NECA Gambling Services'' or a similar group for the next year and co-operates fully; and that he produces reports from the organisation confirming his co-operation halfway through his treatment and at the end of the 12-month period.