Families conned by a crooked Fife funeral director have spoken of their shock and disappointment as he was jailed for 33 months.
Barry Stevenson-Hamilton made more than £130,000 by selling phoney funeral packages to nearly 50 unsuspecting customers.
The 40-year-old admitted the six-year fraudulent scheme when he appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court last month.
He returned to the dock on Thursday and was told there was no alternative to prison.
Many of his victims have hit out at the sentence, with some considering lodging an appeal.
One said: “He’s only remorseful because he was caught.”
The company employee who uncovered his elaborate scam told us: “There’s zero justice.”
Six-year scam
He ran his scam at offices in Station Road in Cardenden, Queensferry Road in Rosyth, Station Road in Cowdenbeath, Links Street in Kirkcaldy, and elsewhere, between 2013 and 2019.
He sold packages, purported to be with Cheshire-based funeral giants Avalon, which did not exist.
He was eventually rumbled by his own employees.
Remorseful, ashamed and embarrassed
Stevenson-Hamilton appeared at court via video link from HMP Perth.
Defending, solicitor Gillian Simpson stressed that her client did accept his guilt, despite contrary comments he made to social workers.
Ms Simpson said that, although he was assessed as suitable for a community sentence, she wouldn’t ask for anything except jail.
She said: “Your Ladyship will no doubt have noted that Mr Stevenson-Hamilton’s account of offending is not in line with the libel or plea tendered.
“He has once again confirmed he did commit the offence libelled.
“He does accept full responsibility for his actions.”
Ms Simpson added: “It is acknowledged that this is a serious offence.
“Mr Stevenson-Hamilton has been aware that custody is the method of disposal.”
The solicitor told the court: “He worked legitimately as a director of Stevenson’s Funeral Directors for four years before committing the offence.
“He is remorseful. He does feel shame and embarrassment.
“He can reflect on how this would affect the victims.”
Breach of trust
Jailing Stevenson-Hamilton for 33 months, Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane said: “You are aware – and have been for some time – that this case warrants a custodial sentence.
“Nothing short of that would be sufficient.
“I just have to decide how long.”
She added: “There are a number of aggravating factors in this case. One of these is the significant planning that must have gone into this, the number of complainers involved, their ages and their vulnerability.
“There was also an element of trust they placed in you when they handed you their money.
“None of them will receive that money back.”
Her sentence was met with groans from the public gallery.
Families tell of ‘lasting effects’
Victims of the conman said they were left shocked by the sentencing, with some saying the case should have been transferred to the High Court.
Tina McLean, whose parents Christina and Edward Plant were defrauded of nearly £3,000 of their savings, said: “I’m disappointed and shocked with the sentence, for all the amount of money he has defrauded people out of.
“There are lasting effects of his crime on us. We are the ones who are trying to go and find the money.
“He is not remorseful. He is just remorseful that he’s been caught.”
Mrs Plant said: “He has got money out of us – money that we saved up all our days to pay for a funeral plan (for her husband).
Sheila Baines lost nearly £7,000 to the conman for funeral plans for both her and her husband, Michael.
Mrs Baines said: “It’s shocking, he should have got more (jail time) than that.
“It makes me sick, all of those people (victims) wanted a result and did not get one.
“I don’t feel justice has been done because no-one is going to get their money back.
“Maybe people will think twice when going for funeral plans just to make sure everything is alright.”
The employee who brought him to justice
Sarah Yorke, who was principal funeral director at the firm, helped uncover Stevenson-Hamilton’s fraud when she examined funeral plan folders in Rosyth and Kirkcaldy and discovered original application forms for the plans were still there.
They should have been sent to Avalon.
She then spent time copying those originals, copying payment receipts and fake Stevenson certificates which, she says, were sent to clients in place of correct Avalon paperwork.
Speaking outside court after the sentencing, she said: “We’re disappointed and angry.
“There’s zero justice. Thirty-three months does not put money back in these people’s bank accounts.
“To be honest, we’re disappointed it was not transferred to the High Court.
She added: “I would have hoped, considering the circumstances and given the vulnerability of people we are talking about that it should have been transferred to the High Court and a message sent to any other funeral director out there who is not responsible to act in the best interests of the client.
“That would have been a lesson.”
Ms Yorke said both she and a number of the victims will consider writing to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to review and potentially appeal the length of Stevenson-Hamilton’s sentence.
