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Man faces jail over Aberdeen housing price bribes

Man faces jail over Aberdeen housing price bribes

A man has admitted taking bribes to reduce the value of council houses being sold off in Aberdeen.

Valuations officer Desmond Tough told people looking to buy a home under the Right to Buy legislation that in return for a sum of cash, he would lower the price.

The 51-year-old pocketed more than £2,000 in the scam, which he carried out between December 2014 and May 2015 while working at the Valuation Office Agency in Aberdeen.

He targeted those buying houses on the city’s School Drive, Stewart Crescent, West Cairncry Road, Great Northern Road, Bedford Avenue and St Ninnian’s Court. The properties were being sold by both the city council and the Grampian Housing Association.

Tough, of Cannon Court, Stonehaven, admitted eight charges of bribery when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.

Sheriff Graeme Napier deferred sentence on the background reports, but warned him it was likely he would be jailed.

He said: “You should be aware this is a very serious matter and a serious breach of public trust and the most likely outcome is a custodial sentence.”

Tough, whose address was given as Cannon Court in Stonehaven, will return to court next month to be sentenced.

A Valuation Office Agency spokeswoman confirmed he no longer worked with the organisation.

She said: “We take all allegations of misconduct made against our staff extremely seriously, and have published guidance on how to report serious misconduct.

“We no longer employ this person.”

Grampian Housing Association and Aberdeen City Council declined to comment on the matter.