News / Electrician fraudster strikes again
A SHETLAND electrician convicted of insinuating himself into people’s homes to steal money three years ago has pled guilty to a similar offence at Lerwick Sheriff Court.
On Thursday 49 year old James Stewart Robertson, of Willial, Levenwick, admitted stealing £40 from a house in Virkie last year.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said that previously Robertson had been masquerading as an on duty electrician while on sick leave and went into people’s homes to steal money.
On 31 October he was assisting an electrician friend who had “significant mobility difficulties” after an accident. The fiscal said the man knew of his past offences, but had been persuaded to take him on.
“His friend had given him a chance by giving him employment. They went to a house and because he was the mobile one, he was doing most of the moving around the house,” Mr Mackenzie said.
The couple living there had taken cash out of the bank to pay the electrician, and Robertson took the opportunity to steal it, causing “significant embarrassment” to his friend.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client was very disappointed in himself, was sorry for what he had done, and wished to apologise to his victims. He said that he could pay back the stolen money within a fortnight.
Mr Allan said: “The sum itself isn’t that significant…but he is well aware that he will pay a high price for this in what people will think of him and his chances of doing this sort of work again.”
Because of his previous conviction for fraud and attempted theft in 2009 for which he received two years probation and a three month tagging order, Sheriff Philip Mann said this was sufficiently “up the scale” to mean a possible prison sentence and deferred sentence until 16 May for social enquiry reports.
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