Conman is a ‘disgrace to the human race’ - sheriff

Oct 15 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A FRAUDSTER who conned an 80-year-old woman out of £3000 has been dubbed a “disgrace to the human race” by a sheriff.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard bogus workman Andrew McPhee, (23), took the money from the vulnerable pensioner to fund his drug addiction.

The father-of-three, who was already serving a two-and-a-half year sentence for similar offences, appeared from custody.

Fiscal depute Claire Martin said McPhee had first called at the pensioner’s Kirknewton home in July 2008 telling her his name was James and that he noticed that her hedge needed cut while he was carrying out work for a neighbour.

She agreed for the work to be carried out and paid him £200 for the job once he finished.

However, a week later he returned with another man and told her he was there to look at the back garden. McPhee told the elderly lady that he would clean out her greenhouse and garden and put down woodchips.

“The accused did not say how much it would cost,” Ms Martin added.

“The accused went into the house to add up his figures and said it would cost £2800. The lady asked how the figure had been arrived at but described the answer as Double Dutch.”

When the pensioner said she didn’t keep that kind of money in the house McPhee said he would drive her to the bank.

The conman and his accomplice then drove her to the Centre in Livingston where she withdrew £3000 from the Halifax Bank of Scotland.

Callous McPhee took the money from her and shamelessly handed her back £100 to allow her to do some food shopping before abandoning the 80-year-old in Asda.

A witness who was concerned for the lady’s well-being after seeing her with McPhee and the other man watched as the pair drove away and left the woman inside the supermarket.

When the victim eventually left the store she couldn’t find McPhee and got a taxi home where she found her garden in a mess and the job not started.

She went to a neighbour’s house and called the police.

Police later traced McPhee to Saughton Prison where he was serving a two-and-a-half year sentence for similar offences.

Last week, McPhee of Wester Drylaw Park, Edinburgh, pled guilty to obtaining £3000 by fraud.

His solicitor, Mira Chaudry, told the court: “He totally accepts that this was an example of mean spirited, disgraceful behaviour and he expresses sorrow and remorse for his actions.

“There is no excuse for his behaviour on this occasion.”

Sentencing him to 300 days imprisonment Sheriff Martin Edington said McPhee would serve it on top of his current sentence.

However, the sheriff said that he wished could have given the conman a longer term.

Sheriff Edington said: “You are a disgrace to yourself, a disgrace to your family and a disgrace to the human race.”