THE hearing for the second part of Stephen Lee's appeal against his 12-year ban from snooker has concluded with a decision expected later this week, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced on Monday.

Lee, who has trained at the 147 Club on Station Road, was given the ban last September after being found guilty of seven charges of match-fixing dating back to 2008 and 2009.

The 39-year-old from Trowbridge, a former world number five, has continually protested his innocence.

His two-part appeal began with him challenging the use of Adam Lewis QC as chair of the independent disciplinary tribunal that heard the case and, in February, Lee was unsuccessful in that instance.

In the second part of the appeal, he is challenging the guilty verdict.

A WPBSA statement read: "On Monday May 12, 2014 Nicholas Stewart QC sat as the Appeals Committee to hear the remaining parts of Stephen Lee's appeal against the finding that he was in breach of the WPBSA Rules for match and spot fixing in connection with seven matches in 2008-9.

"The appeal was against the finding, sanction and the costs order imposed by Adam Lewis QC in September 2013.

"The hearing has concluded and Nicholas Stewart QC's decision is expected to be given later this week."