Working a scam

Street light inspector defrauded employer

A Stirling Council street lamp inspector is facing jail after charging thousands of pounds worth of expensive gear for his private use to his employer.

Craig Strathearn, 35, used an official council credit card, together with merchants’ accounts also in the name of the authority, to buy himself more than £16,350 worth tools and materials.

A court heard he pretended to officials of the SNP/Labour-run authority he bought the goods for the purpose of “completing jobs in the course of his employment”, the truth being that he had acquired them for his own purposes.

The council had already paid out more than £15,400 to suppliers used by Strathearn when the scam was discovered.

At Stirling Sheriff Court on Friday, Strathearn, of Strath Earn Cottage, Dunmore, admitted obtaining tools and materials to the value of £16,358 by fraud between June 23 and December 9, 2016.

He had originally been charged with obtaining tools and materials to the value of £61,606 by fraud, but prosecutor Eilidh Smith accepted his plea to the lesser sum. Strathearn, who was not present in court, tendered his plea through a solicitor.

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson adjourned the case for criminal justice social work reports, and ordered Strathearn to appear in court in person to be sentenced on October 31 when further details of the case will be given.

A Stirling Council spokesman said: “Craig Strathearn was employed by Stirling Council as a street lighting technician within the roads service and his employment ceased on April 18, 2017.

“Stirling Council takes any allegations of fraud or theft extremely seriously and will involve the police where it is deemed necessary.”