Antiques dealer is accused of cheating his clients

AN ANTIQUES dealer is to stand trial accused of stealing valuable objects from dozens of clients – then scamming two customers out of more than £20,000 by inflating the value of paintings he sold them.

Kenneth Robb formerly ran Kingdom Antiques in Cupar, Fife, but now stands accused of dishonesty offences dating back as far as 2005.

Prosecutors say that between January 1, 2005 and July 31 last year Mr Robb took paintings, jewellery, watches, musical instruments, antiques, clothing, sporting equipment, cameras and books from a total of 44 clients on the condition that he would sell them in his shop for a fee.

Over that 11-year period he is alleged to have told customers he would sell the property and pass on the proceeds to them – but instead “disposed of the items by means unknown”.

Mr Robb also faces allegations he defrauded £17,000 from Louise Seymour over the purchase of a painting in January or February 2006.

He is alleged to have told her the picture was valued at £25,000, but offered it at a “discounted” rate of £17,000. In fact, it was worth less than £1,000.

Robb is said to have repeated the trick on August 15, 2011, allegedly telling Josephine Donnelly a painting was valued at £6,500, but that he would sell it to her at a discounted price of £4,500. Prosecutors say the true value was only £500.

Robb, 71, of Blalowan Gardens, Cupar, yesterday denied 44 charges of theft and two of fraud on summary complaint at Dundee Sheriff Court. A trial date is set for late March.