Pensioner cautioned after sit-in protest at Fife heating firm

72-yearold will not give up campaign until he gets all his money

A pensioner with cancer was cautioned by police after staging a sit-in protest at the premises of a Glenrothes heating firm.

Colin Cookson has repeatedly turned up at the offices of Future Scotland since the start of December to demand the return of his deposit after he cancelled an order for a gas heating system.

The 72-year-old was accused of being abusive by staff at the Newark Road South premises and police officers turned up at around 2.30pm yesterday.

Mr Cookson said he had been penalised for standing up for his rights.

“They’ve given me a caution for coming and asking for my money back,” he said.

The retired scaffolding contractor insists he is due all of the £995 he paid before cancelling work on a new heating system five days into a 14-day cooling off period.

Future Scotland initially refunded £500 of the total but by yesterday Mr Cookson was still waiting for the remaining £495.

The company has now given an assurance that he will be paid back in full.

Mr Cookson said he would give up his protest when he was certain the money was in his account.

Future Scotland, which is run by Alistair Galloway and Thomas Gibson, is subject to a striking off proposal according to Companies House.

The directors are listed under another active company called Future Scotland Gas.

Mr Galloway said: “We set up two companies. Future Scotland Gas is still trading and still working.”

Mr Cookson was not the only dissatisfied client who turned up at Future Scotland’s offices on Tuesday.

Margaret Beattie, 64, had driven from Lochmaben in Dumfries and Galloway to ask why she had not received a £5,000 refund.

Mrs Beattie said she had a battery to store solar energy installed by the company on October 4 last year but was dissatisfied with the work, claiming her downstairs sockets were left disconnected.

“I’ve come here because I’m so fed up of all the excuses I have had,” she said.

They’ve given me a caution for coming and asking for my money back. COLIN COOKSON

Picture: Steven Brown. Mr Cookson at the Glenrothes offices of Future Scotland.