A fraudster who conned people into handing over more than £18,000 for goods and services he never delivered, including a football shirt signed by Pele and a sportsman’s dinner in honour of Raith Rovers, has been ordered to perform 300 hours’ community service.
James Keeble was also ordered to compensate his victims by Sheriff Grant McCulloch at Kirkcaldy.
Keeble (38), of Sutherland Place, Shortsoune, Bedford, had appeared on indictment when he pleaded guilty to obtaining money by false pretences by forming a fraudulent scheme between August 9 and December 5, 2006.
He admitted that between November 1 and 25 at Signatures4U, Links Street, Kirkcaldy, or elsewhere, he pretended to Nadeem Arshad that his name was Ben Stevens and that for £450 he could supply him with a football shirt signed by Pele when he had no intentions of doing so and induced Mr Arshad to transfer £450 into his bank account.
Between November 15 and 30 at Eight Ball Sports Bar, Edinburgh, or elsewhere, he pretended to Michael Short his name was Ben Stevens and that if he paid him £10,000 to progress a stock order, he would repay him £20,000 by December 11 when he had no intentions of ordering stock or repaying such a sum and induced Mr Short to transfer £10,000 into his bank account.
On October 16 at Signatures4U, he pretended his name was Ben Stevens and that he was authorised by Raith Rovers to organise a hall of fame dinner on their behalf, issued letters inviting people to pay him £2937 to take a table, and induced three Kirkcaldy businessmen to each provide him with a cheque for £2937.
Sentencing Keeble, Sheriff McCulloch also told him to pay his victims a total of £19,261 in compensation.
The case brought to a conclusion an inquiry which began in December, 2006.
Using the name Ben Stevens, he had set up Signatures4U in partnership with Dundee businessman Craig Stewart.
Dundee FC signed a one-year sponsorship deal worth £50,000 in summer 2006 and the company had advertising arrangements with Raith Rovers.
Keeble’s deceptions began to come to light after he disappeared from the flat he rented from Mr Stewart.
Mr Stewart resigned from Signatures4U and set up his own firm, honouring financial commitments made.