Edmonstone’s tears over list of shame

Dru Edmonstone hung his head and occasionally appeared to weep as details of his fraud were outlined at Stirling Sheriff Court.

The former financier, of Ardoch House, Blanefield, had faced a number of other allegations.

There was a claim that he attempted to obtain further housing benefit from Stirling Council while using the name of Brad Pitt’s Fight Club film character, Tyler Durden.

It was also alleged he pocketed money taken from walkers at a pop-up cafe in a caravan on the West Highland Way while claiming to be selling refreshments for charity. However, these charges were dropped.

Edmonstone’s solicitor, John Mulholland, said his client had been diagnosed with“emotionally unstable personality disorder”.

He said:“His conduct has been bizarre.”

He said Edmonstone“continues to have the support of his family, notwithstanding the narration”and would be able to repay at least a third of the money defrauded.

Remanding Edmonstone in custody for reports, Sheriff Wyllie Robertson told him:“Irrespective of questions of repayment, it is still a very significant figure and a custodial sentence is inevitable.

“This was a serious offence with a considerable degree of sophistication in its planning and execution.”

Edmonstone will be sentenced on February 21.

Duntreath Castle, a famous shooting estate, is the ancestral home, in unbroken succession, of the Edmonstone family, who were granted the lands by Robert III as a wedding gift for his grand-daughter.

The Edmonstone Baronetcy was a title created on May 20, 1774 for Archibald Edmonstone, who had been a Tory MP for Dunbartonshire and Ayr Burghs.

Edmonstone’s great-grandmother Alice Keppel, Edward VII’s mistress, is also Camilla’s great-grandmother .