Spare fraudsters jail says 86-year-old victim

An elderly Gargunnock woman wants the two ex-police officers who drained her bank accounts of £60,000 to be spared jail.

Sentence has been deferred on Andrew and Jean Rough who were last month convicted at trial of embezzling money from Andrew’s 86-year-old mother Gladys over a period of over five years.

They splashed the cash on a new-build home, a summer house for their back garden and laser eye surgery while squandering up to £700-a-month buying trolley-loads of groceries.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard how the withdrawals began after Gladys’ husband Andrew, who died last year, was taken to hospital with a stroke and the complainer handed her son and daughter-in-law her bank cards to do her £30 weekly shop and to collect money to pay her gardener and cleaner.

The duo ended up taking up to £12,000 each year – running one of Gladys’accounts down to just 37 pence causing a direct debit to bounce and her phone to be cut off.

Sheriff Gilchrist

However, Andrew Rough’s Advocate Lewis Kennedy said this week that the complainer didn’t want either accused to receive prison sentences.

Sheriff William Gilchrist continued the case for a victim impact statement and for more information relating to the financial circumstances of both accused.

He said:“I take the view that I need more information. If I am to consider an alternative to custody I need to consider the option of compensation.

“I do not have sufficient information relating to their income, expenditure and assets at present. I will also continue for a victim impact statement from the complainer.”

Andrew Rough, who is aged 58, and wife Jean (58), of Alloa, were ordered to return to court on Tuesday October 10.