Bogus bank robbery ordeal for ‘rude’ customer in Lochgelly

A “rude” female bank customer became the target of a revenge allegation of robbery.

Simon More, 39, of Taylor Avenue, Cowdenbeath, admitted that on September 29 at Bank Street, Lochgelly, he falsely told police he had been the victim of a robbery, wasted police time depriving the public of officers’ services and placed innocent people under suspicion and accusation of robbery.

Depute fiscal Claire Bremner told the court More had attended the Bank of Scotland as a customer on the day of the incident.

“He was chatting to the bank teller when another customer told him to hurry up,” she explained.

“The accused took offence to this and left. He returned to the bank after 20 minutes and told a member of staff he’d been robbed.

“Police were contacted and he said he’d been robbed in the doorway of the bank. He provided the names of two individuals. One of them was the person who had told him to hurry up.

“They were both detained at around 6.15pm and taken to Dunfermline police station.

“Police carried out CCTV inquiries which revealed no robbery had taken place.”

Police then arrested More and he admitted he had made the whole thing up because “he didn’t like the way he’d been treated”, added the depute.

Defence solicitor Ian Beatson said: “When he was in the bank another customer was rude to him and he accepts he made up this false allegation against her. “He is very remorseful.” The solicitor added his client was a first offender.

Sheriff Craig McSherry deferred sentence on More until October 25 for him to be of good behaviour.