Fraudster to go to High Court for sentencing

A GAMBLING addict who claimed he engineered a £1 million fraud to pay off loan sharks after they shot his father in the head has been referred to a higher court for sentencing.

Tony Demarco, 64, survived after being shot at point blank range outside the Gala Maybury Casino in Edinburgh in June 2008 and sat stone-faced in court as son Antony Demarco, 38, was due to be sentenced for the scam.

But Sheriff James Scott told Demarco jnr his sentencing powers were "inadequate" and yesterday remitted the case to the High Court.

The scam, launched only weeks after the hit on sandwich shop owner Mr Demarco, was a desperate bid by Demarco jnr to settle his massive online poker debts, Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told.

Yesterday defence solicitor advocate John Scott said even after the illegal money lenders had been paid off Demarco had continued to gamble but is now getting help.

At the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this year four men were jailed for the murder bid. Giving evidence at the trial of those who plotted to kill him Mr Demarco snr said the bullet was still lodged in his cheek and could not be removed because it was so close to the carotid artery and important nerves.

At the time his son was a self employed asset finance broker who held a licence issued by the Office of Fair Trading.

He formed the fraudulent scheme by applying for loans secured against assets that did not exist and as an approved asset finance broker he made and submitted false applications for credit loans.

The court heard Demarco jnr had always had a problem with gambling but had previously used the proceeds of his business, which had been flourishing, to fund his habit.

The court was told examination of his bank accounts showed losses with Ladbrokes of over 1 million.