Bathroom fraudster back in court

Dec 4 2009 Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A CON MAN who duped people out of hundreds of pounds claiming he’d renovate their bathrooms has landed a job – as a bathroom fitter.

Convicted fraudster Ian Wilson admitted lying to three different people and encouraging them to part with cash.

And since the Post reported his antics last month, we have been inundated with calls, letters and emails from people all over Scotland who claim they’ve also been taken in by him.

Wilson has already served two prison sentences for fraud and embezzlement.

He was back in court this week with some of the money he owes his victims.

The 49-year-old conned a Drongan man out of £200 in May this year.

Later the same month, he moved on to his next victim and persuaded the Ayr woman to part with £500.

Then between May 25 and 31, at a bed and breakfast in Ayr’s Miller Road, Wilson conned the landlady out of £1520, claiming it was for bathroom furniture.

Last month at Ayr Sheriff Court he pleaded guilty to all three fraud charges.

He was also charged with failing to pay for his bed and breakfast, but prosecutors accepted his plea of not guilty.

Wilson was back in court this month with some of the cash he owes his victims.

Defence lawyer Peter Lockhart told Sheriff John Montgomery that Wilson has secured a contract as a bathroom fitter.

Mr Lockhart went on to explain that Wilson had brought £1100 to court with him and asked if he could have until the end of January to come up with the rest.

But Sheriff Montgomery told Wilson to leave the money with his lawyer and ordered him to come back to court before Christmas with the balance.

The Perth man was jailed for six months for fraud in Jedburgh in 1989.

In 1992, he was sent to prison for a year for car theft, embezzlement and fraud.

He will be sentenced next month when he produces the rest of the money.