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Themba Hadebe/AP/Press Association Images
IF HE WALKS

Paddy Power has stopped taking bets on Pistorius trial, but will still pay out

Over 1,000 bets were taken on the trial’s outcome under the controversial “Money Back If He Walks” campaign.

PADDY POWER HAS stopped taking bets on the Oscar Pistorius trial, as the “Money Back If He Walks” campaign had “run its course”, a spokesperson said this evening.

The bookmakers confirmed this evening that the promotion was pulled, despite having received over 1,000 bets on the outcome of the Paralympian’s trial.

Over 5,000 people lodged complaints about the advertisements, with more than 100,000 signing an online petition against it.

All bets taken will still be honoured, a spokesperson said.

Complaints

The advertisement for the bet was pulled following an order from the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), who had received a record number of complaints.

The unusual decision was taken by the watchdog as it considered that the ad could “be seriously prejudicial to the general public on the ground of the likely further serious and/or widespread offence it may cause”.

The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland has also received a number of complaints about the advertisement.

Earlier: Paddy Power withdraws Pistorius ad after it becomes most complained about ever >

Read: Pistorius fired shot at restaurant weeks before Steenkamp’s death, trial told >