A Fife businessman has admitted forging his wife’s signature on paperwork which netted him tens of thousands of pounds.
Lee Murray, who was once chairman of East Fife FC, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to admit three charges of forgery from 2017 and 2018.
Court papers confirm Murray, 53, first faked his wife Lynne Murray’s signature in August 2017.
On lease agreement paperwork he tendered to Harrow-based firm Rivers Leasing, he forged her signature and pretended to employees it was genuine.
This helped him illegally net financing for leasing and purchasing to the value of £18,670.
Murray, of Commercial Road in Leven, faked his spouse’s signature a month later on documentation he submitted to Flintshire business LDF Finance.
The company, headquartered in the village of Ewloe, was given loan application papers which convinced them to grant Murray a £14,000 loan.
More than a year passed before Murray forged his partner’s signature on financial paperwork again, on a date around October 23 2018.
This was on an acquisition agreement he tendered to London firm 365 Business Finance Ltd.
Murray received an exchange payment of £10,000 from the firm as a result of the illicit documentation.
Sheriff Robert More ordered reports and deferred sentencing.
Murray will return to court on February 17.
Business experience
Companies House records show Murray was a director at East Fife FC between June 2013 and August 2014.
Murray has spent more than two decades running pubs and bars in Fife.
Records show he has been listed as a former manager of 1 Golf Place in St Andrews, among other pubs.
When he was the owner of Leven’s Truth nightclub, he unveiled ambitious plans to bring top music acts to the town.
However, ownership of the club changed hands again shortly after police found drinkers in the North Street club during lockdown.
Murray took on control of the Laurel Bank Hotel in Markinch just a month before the first pandemic lockdown.
For the latest court cases across Tayside and Fife, join our Courts Facebook page.
