David Jakins Cleared of Conker Cheating Claims

David Jakins, 82, known as 'King Conker', has been cleared of cheating allegations after a steel conker was found in his pocket during the World Conker Championships. The investigation concluded there was no evidence that the steel conker was used in the competition, despite initial concerns raised by his opponent, Alistair Johnson-Ferguson, whose conker shattered unexpectedly in the final match. Johnson-Ferguson later withdrew his accusations, admitting he fabricated the cheating claim and saying there was 'no way to cheat.' Jakins, who has competed since 1977, expressed relief at being exonerated and vowed not to bring the steel conker to future tournaments. The event, which drew significant media attention, confirmed its commitment to ensuring fair play by examining conkers for authenticity in future competitions. Jakins won the men's title but lost the overall championship to women's champion Kelci Banschbach.