Electrician taking home £1,500 a week defrauds Borders resident of £182
Last updated 26th Feb 2024
An electrician who told a court he takes home £1,500 a week has admitted defrauding a Borders resident out of £182.
Martin Haggerty had been helping a firm install a kitchen at a property in Greenlaw in November 2021 when he told the owner their smoke alarm was "not up to standard" and that he'd install a new one.
The 34-year-old, from Dunfermline, initially asked for £140 up front; and then requested a further £42, saying the price had gone up.
But Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (Monday) heard he "kept making excuses". And, when he failed to complete the work, police were called in.
Haggerty, who has a previous conviction for fraud and represented himself in court, claimed to have lost his phone. But he admitted a charge of fraud.
He was fined a total of £790 and ordered to pay his victim £182 compensation. He is being allowed to pay the money at £100 a month.
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