Former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield has been sentenced to four months in prison for spot-fixing at the Old Bailey on Friday.

The 23-year-old, who is the first county cricketer to be prosecuted for spot-fixing, was jailed for one count of accepting or obtaining a corrupt payment to bowl in a way that would allow the scoring of runs.

He will serve half the term in prison and a confiscation order was made for £6,000.

He was paid £6,000 to bowl so that a specific number of runs would be chalked up in the first over of a match between Durham and Essex in September 2009.

It was claimed that Westfield was "targeted" by former Essex team-mate and

Pakistan international Danish Kaneria, who set up the deal.

On Friday further details emerged of the spot-fixing charge faced by Westfield.

The court heard that Westfield was approached by team-mate and former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who revealed that an acquaintance would pay the fast bowler to allow a dozen runs to be scored off him in the opening over of the Pro40 fixture at Chester-le-Street in September 2009.

Prosecutor Nigel Peters QC told the court that the agreement surfaced when fellow Essex player, Tony Palladino, went back to Westfield's home in Chelmsford, where the bowler showed Palladino "the most money he had ever seen".

Westfield, banned from all forms of cricket, including a brief stint on the club circuit, last month pleaded guilty to one count of accepting or obtaining a corrupt payment to bowl in a way that would allow the scoring of runs. Kaneria was arrested in connection with the case but later released without charge.

Mark Milliken-Smith QC, for Westfield, told the court: "It is clear, we submit, that Kaneria and his associates targeted Westfield.

"Westfield was on the verge of the squad, more susceptible for that reason. Less likely perhaps to be able to say no to the club's international star, his future with the club uncertain."

The match was one of the first televised games that Westfield had participated in. Milliken-Smith insisted that Kaneria took Westfield out to dinner with some friends, and said he had a way that the young cricketer could make money more quickly.

He said Westfield felt "pressured" to become involved in the plot as discussions intensified. The day before the game, Westfield, then 21 years old, was told that people had waged money on the clash and that if he did not agree to the deal they would lose out.