Angry families shout ‘joke’ as he is sentenced
BEREAVED families conned by a crooked cemetery boss hit out yesterday as he was jailed for 16 months.
The victims, who lost thousands to conman William Henderson, branded the sentence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court “a joke”.
Henderson, 46, who tricked grieving relatives into buying occupied or non-existent plots, was also ordered to pay compensation to the Catholic Church of £14,720.
That was the amount he admitted pocketing but it is believed the true total may be more than £32,000.
A number of victims were in court yesterday to see him jailed.
Some called out: “That’s nothing” and “Absolute disgrace” as he was led from the dock in handcuffs.
Another victim was warned by police after calling Henderson “scum” in court before he was sentenced.
One family member, whose late mum was swindled by him, said he was “really disappointed” as he had been told Henderson could face up to five years.
He added that the crimes of which Henderson was convicted were “the tip of the iceberg”, and more families had been scammed by him.
Henderson carried out the nineyear fraud while superintendent at Edinburgh’s Mount Vernon Cemetery, the city’s only Catholic burial ground.
Jailing the former gravedigger, Sheriff Donald Corke said he had “systemically cheated people”.
He added: “You have clearly caused the most enormous distress.
“You did this in the most hypocritical and callous way, while pretending to be loyal to the Church and a friend to people … at their most vulnerable.”
Brazen Henderson, from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, altered records to make plots appear vacant and families were given false title deeds.
Outside court, one victim – who asked not to be named – said: “I was told he could get five years maximum. I didn’t think he’d get as little as 16 months.
“I don’t think the sentence gets close to matching the grief he caused. What Henderson did was disgusting.”
The man’s mother, who has since died, was conned by Henderson over a burial plot when she wanted to be buried next to a loved one. He said: “I had to break the news to her when we found out what had happened.”
Henderson’s defence agent, Murray Robertson, said his client was aware of the “misery and harm” he’d caused.
He added that Henderson had already posted £14,720 with his office in case the sheriff made a compensation order.
He added: “Once again he would like to publicly apologise for the hurt and grief and distress that has been caused.”
The solicitor said Henderson had been “tearful and emotional” while recounting his behaviour to social workers for reports.
But as he awaited his fate outside the courtroom, Henderson was smiling and joking with supporters.
One victim said: “He looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world.”
Henderson’s activities came to light in January 2015 when the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, who own the Liberton cemetery, received a complaint from an undertaker.
He pled guilty last month to 13 frauds between 2006 and 2015.
The Church have borne the financial losses, while families who bought fraudulent plots were found land in other areas of the cemetery.
Following sentencing, Det Chief Insp Paul Grainger said: “At no point did Henderson show any remorse for his actions, or the impact his deception had on his victims.”