Man accused of plumbing fraud

A man has denied defrauding DIY stores across Tayside of almost £10,000 of goods.

Graeme McKay, of Tennis Road, Carnoustie, denies the offences, which are said to have taken place since 2015.

It is alleged that on December 19 that year the 36-year-old went to Plumbase at the Inveralmond Industrial Estate, Perth and persuaded employees to part with £380 in goods after telling staff he was acting for a building maintenance firm at Dundee’s Overgate Centre.

He returned to the store on three separate occasions, on January 8, 9 and 15 of 2016, coming away with a total of £3,949.63 in goods.

He is alleged to have targeted the Dundee branch of Plumbase between March 8 2016 and April 14 that year, telling staff he was authorised to use another person’s account, to obtain goods worth £2,031.05.

He is further alleged to have gone to BSS at the RGM industrial estate in Dundee, where he is also said to have told employees he was acting for the maintenance firm and obtained goods worth £1,243.37 on December 22 2015.

It is alleged that he targeted Plumb Centre on Perth’s Breadalbane Road on February 19 2016, obtaining items worth £1,167.

An eighth charge alleges that he defrauded a plumbing store in Garthdee, Aberdeen, of £979.44 of goods.

McKay will appear again at Perth Sheriff Court later this month.