Man sold his partner’s home behind her back

Alexander Currie, 46, fraudulently sold Janette McVicar’s property in Edinburgh to pay off a £30,000 debt, the city’s sheriff court heard yesterday.

To make the sale, the conman recruited another woman to pose as Ms McVicar to a firm of Edinburgh-based solicitors.

The woman – whose identity is unknown – told unsuspecting lawyer Christopher Campbell that she wanted to sell the property in Edinburgh’s Fernieside Drive, and it was duly put on the market.

Currie persuaded a man called Gareth Davies – who did not know about Currie’s scheme – to apply for a mortgage and buy the house.

After receiving the cash, Currie, a first offender, paid off his debt to another man, Mark Donoghue.

The scam was only uncovered a few weeks later, when Ms McVicar phoned her mortgage providers to see how much she owed. They told her that the loan had been paid off – and that she should contact Campbells Solicitors.

Mr Campbell told Ms McVicar that he thought he had actually been dealing with her. The police launched a fraud inquiry and arrested her partner.

Currie, of Drumdryan Street, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to a charge of forming a fraudulent scheme to obtain money between January and April 2010 before Sheriff Paul Arthurson.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia told the court that the scheme was hatched in January 2010, after Currie needed cash to pay off personal debts.

Mr Kapadia said Currie decided to launch a con in which he would sell Ms McVicar’s home without telling her and pocket the proceeds.

Mr Kapadia added: “Ms McVicar called her mortgage provider to check the status of her mortgage and was somewhat surprised to hear that the mortgage had been redeemed and repaid.”

He said that when interviewed by police, Currie had admitted his offence.

Sheriff Arthurson deferred sentence until next month for reports, but he warned Currie: “You should be aware that the court is considering all options.”