Accused of theft

An NHS Forth Valley occupational therapist this week appeared in court accused of stealing furniture and equipment donated by a senior doctor to an Alloa nursing home.

Scott Bamford, of Alloa Road, Clackmannan, denied a charge alleging he stole equipment donated to Marchglen home by former NHS Forth Valley consultant neurologist Dr Robert Prempeh.

Forty-three-year-old Bamford, whose partner is a furniture restorer, is said to have received a quantity of furniture, electrical equipment and sports equipment donated to the home by Dr Prempeh, and stole the items between June 17 and September 30 last year at Collymoon Holdings, Port of Menteith.

Bamford was due to face summary trial at Stirling Sheriff Court on Monday, but prosecutor Laura Knox said the Crown had not yet been able to get Dr Prempeh to court as a witness and asked for a delay.

Solicitor-advocate Billy Lavelle, defending, unsuccessfully opposed the postponement.

He told the court that “due to issues related to this matter” his client had lost his job as an occupational therapist, a role he had carried out in the area for 10 years.

Mr Lavelle said: “He is not able to work until this case has been resolved.”

The solicitor-advocate said the outstanding allegation had also affected Bamford’s partner’s business.

He said: “She is a furniture restorer, and unable to get commercial insurance until this case is resolved.”

Dr Prempeh, 50, formerly lead consultant in neurological rehabilitation at Forth Valley Health Board, is understood to have left that role to take up a position in the United Arab Emirates.

Mrs Knox, the depute fiscal, said he was an essential Crown witness.

She said: “The Crown does not currently have an address for Dr Prempeh.”

Sheriff Alison McKay agreed to continue the case until November 20 to allow further attempts to be made to trace him.