A north architectural technician pocketed £1,500 after forging a Highland Council worker’s signature on a warrant allowing a house to be built in Rosemarkie.
Duncan Macleman, 41, of 33 Mackenzie Place, Avoch, admitted the charge at Dingwall Sheriff Court yesterday.
The building of the house at Flowerburn Mains went ahead after the building warrant was passed as genuine on October 24, 2012, it was said.
But in 2013, Macleman was caught when customer Bruce Main was asked to produce a council tax reference number for the warrant and it was discovered it could not be found.
Mr Main then had to paid a fee of £1,900 to the council in order to obtain a retrospective building warrant rather than face the prospect of the property being demolished.
The funds have since been reimbursed to Mr Main.
Macleman had his sentence deferred until November 20.
