Jail warning for Angus fraudster who conned pensioners

An Angus man who tricked elderly residents into paying him money for window cleaning work he had not carried out has been warned he could face jail.

Kenneth Tough, 25, of Burnett Drive in Arbroath appeared at the town’s sheriff court on Tuesday, where he admitted defrauding four pensioners at Andy Stewart Court on Cliffburn Road on August 4.

Tough had his sentenced deferred for the preparation of reports.

The accused pleaded guilty to convincing the residents, aged 85, 84, 76 and 60, to pay him money for cleaning their windows when he attended at their addresses on the day in question.

Tough also admitted he stole £20 from a coin counter at another address at Andy Stewart Court on the same day.

He claimed he was a window cleaner and told residents he was collecting money. Sheriff Peter Paterson confirmed none of the money taken by Tough was returned by the accused.

The sheriff told the accused: “Given the nature of the charge a custodial sentence must be in my mind.”