Vigilant bank staff and a resourceful policewoman snared one of three conmen who travelled the Highlands trying to cash cheques using false identities.
The Bank of Scotland issued a bulletin to all of their staff warning them of the fraudsters and when one member of staff was suspicious of the same car passing by the Golspie branch, the trap was set.
Constable Tracy Murray was alerted and she hid in the manager’s office and pounced when 49-year-old Lindsay Smith of Bolton pretending to be a Daniel McInlay came in to try and cash a cheque for £1,800.
He had earlier been in the Alness branch on January 26 this year using a driving licence in the name of Peter Rogers and tried to cash a cheque.
Yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court, Smith admitted two charges of forming a fraudulent scheme and one of possessing a fake driving licence.
Sentence was deferred until June 2 for a background report. He was again remanded in custody.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart told the court that Alness bank staff were suspicious of Smith when he first came in to their branch.
Mr Urquhart said that later that day Constable Murray went to the Golspie branch to make staff there aware of men attempting to fraudulently withdraw money from banks in the Highlands.
“A short time later, the manager contacted the constable to report that she had observed a suspicious vehicle driving past the bank on several occasions. Constable Murray went back to the branch and was taken through to the manager’s office.”
Smith appeared at about 2pm, with two cheques.
Mr Urquhart added: “At this point, Constable Murray detained him.”
