Forger gets more time to pay up

A Perth sheriff yesterday agreed to allow one of Scotland’s most notorious forgers further time to foot his £96,000 bill — because his luxury mansion will not sell.

The ailing property market was blamed for John Farrell’s inability to pay off the hefty confiscation order.

A PERTH SHERIFF yesterday agreed to allow one of Scotland’s most notorious forgers further time to foot his £ 96,000 bill — because his luxury mansion will not sell.

The ailing property market was blamed for John Farrell’s inability to pay off the hefty confiscation order.

Farrell (54) was jailed for almost six years for producing fake banknotes at an East Kilbride Factory, with the help of his sons.

The businessman ran a huge counterfeiting operation but was caught when officers traced the bogus currency back to the premises of his ailing IT company in early 2008.

In total, police investigations unearthed £185,000 of counterfeit cash.

Earlier court hearings were told the equipment in the offices of his firm, EWM Solutions, could turn out up to 25 fake £20 notes an hour. Experts described them as being of “extremely good” quality.

His Oxford graduate son Craig (26), who used his computer skills to improve the colour and clarity of the print, was jailed for two years and nine months.

Another son, Paul (23), and employee Gordon Grainger, also 23, of Dundee were ordered to carry out 300 hours’ unpaid community work for passing off the fake cash.

At the High Court in Edinburgh last May, judge Lady Clark was told Farrell’s lawyers and the Crown had agreed the figure for his illegal gains was £96,000.

He was forced to sell his £960,000 fivebedroom family home to pay the amount, but defence agent David Fisken revealed yesterday the property had only had two viewings in six months.

Perth Sheriff Court heard the fraudster had already dropped the “high-end” asking price by more than £60,000. Currently unemployed, he is said to be hoping to start a £90,000-a-year position at a waste management firm, which will aid his ability to pay up.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said he was willing to extend the deadline by three months. “I will continue this matter — it seems to me that it makes sense to do so to see if things do change,” he said.

However he noted that the Crown had the power to seize any assets if necessary.

The case was heard in Perth because Farrell spent the latter part of his sentence at Castle Huntly. Sheriff Foulis agreed to remit the matter to Hamilton Sheriff Court, to be heard on October 26.

John Farrell