He bolted with cash

Reneged on door work

A workman who pocketed £740 after agreeing to fit a new door to a house in Whins of Milton never carried out the work.

Alan Philip was fined £300 and ordered to pay his female victim compensation during an appearance at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday morning.

The 35-year-old was convicted of stealing the cash from a property in Whins Road sometime between July 15 and August 12 last year.

Fiscal depute Laura Knox told the court: “The accused had come to an agreement with the complainer that a new door would be fitted. They agreed that the cost would be £740.

“The accused returned the next day to collect the money and said he would be back as the door had to be ordered.”

The customer, however, began to grow concerned as time passed and Philip still hadn’t returned. A number of follow-up calls were made as a result.

She said she either wanted the door to be fitted or her money back, and the accused said he would do the work – but again failed to attend.

At this point she grew frustrated and said she wanted her money back but she never got it.

Police were contacted on August 17 and the accused was eventually traced by officers in February, with the work still not done and no refund given.

The court heard how the complainer’s son initially approached Philip to do the work as he was working on a neighbouring property.

The accused was driving a van and had a uniform which said ‘we do doors’ on it.

It emerged that Philip’s employment with the firm had come to an end and the order of the door had actually been cancelled. He had the money but had simply failed to return it.

Philip, of Keir Hardie Terrace in Dunfermline, was ordered to pay his victim £740 compensation and a £300 fine.