Two ATM scammers are behind bars after admitting a card-skimming scheme that saw a former St Johstone striker footballer conned out of hundreds of pounds.
Alexandru Uzum and Eduard Zamosteanu admitted installing a “card trapping” device and a camera on a cash machine in Scone.
Former Saints player Nathan Lowndes, who is now a police officer, had his details stolen after using the Perth Road machine.
The two fraudsters were previously banned from Denmark for six years after being convicted of a similar offence in the Scandinavian country.
Zamosteanu admitted possessing the card trapping device between May 20 and June 9.
It was then installed at the Scone ATM by Uzum and Zamosteanu on May 20 – with Zamosteanu then using it to steal the former striker’s PIN number and bank card.
Uzum then used the stolen details to operate an ATM and steal £200.
Uzum later installed the device again at the same machine on May 28 to prevent bank cards from being ejected by the machine in a bid to steal a bank card and PIN number.
Uzum, 25, Oxgangs Park, Edinburgh, and Zamosteanu, 27, a prisoner Perth, pled guilty to three charges apiece at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Florin Necula, 36, of Oxgangs Park, Edinburgh, had not guilty pleas to similar charges accepted by prosecutors.
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael deferred sentence until November 5 for social work background reports and remanded the pair in custody.
No motion for bail was made for Uzum and a bail application for Zamosteanu was denied.
Sheriff Carmichael said: “In view of the seriousness of the charges and the fact there previous convictions in Scotland and in Europe, bail will be refused.”
Nathan Lowndes, 38, signed for St Johnstone in 1998 and became a firm fans’ favourite on their run to third place in the league and the League Cup Final in his first season at the Perth side.
He later moved to various English sides – but returned to Scotland to set up home in Perthshire upon his retirement from football.
Lowndes is now an officer with the Police Service of Scotland in Tayside.