An Aberdeen man is among a pair of workmen who are accused of defrauding four pensioners in an alleged £28,000 house repairs scam.
John Forrest, 37, and Kevin Russell, 42, are accused of committing fraud at properties in Edinburgh and Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire – charges they have both denied.
Court papers allege that the pair, of Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, while acting with others, pretended to an 81-year-old woman that they were “reputable roofers”.
It is claimed they pretended that the roof of the pensioner’s property required repairs and repeatedly said that further work was needed.
Forrest and Russell are accused of attending her property and pretending to carry out repairs to a “workmanlike standard”.
But it’s alleged that they instead damaged the roof and then repeatedly demanded and received payments to bank accounts for the repairs.
It’s claimed that the 81-year-old transferred a total of £22,000 to them.
Pair accused of ‘pretending’ to carry out repair work
A separate charge alleges Forrest and Russell also targeted a man and woman, aged 86 and 82 years old.
They’re accused of claiming to be “reputable roofers” and that repairs were required to their house.
The pair also allegedly presented false photographs and pretended repairs were required to rotten wood.
They’re also accused of saying that repairs were needed to the roof and chimney.
But the charge alleges that none of the repairs were required.
They allegedly attended and pretended to carry out the repairs and caused damage to the roof tiles, the court papers claim.
It is further alleged that they removed the tiles, stones and masonry to the point where the roof was not watertight.
The pair are accused of defrauding the couple into paying them £5,800.
Men deny three charges of fraud
A final charge alleges that Forrest and Russell pretended a 77-year-old woman that her roof slates required repair.
It is alleged that when they returned, they told her that the coping stones on her roof also needed work done to them.
The pair are accused of taking £250 for payment and failing to return to do the work.
Forrest and Russell have pled not guilty to the three charges of fraud.
A further hearing was set for January by Sheriff Daniel Kelly at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Forrest and Russell remain on bail meantime.
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