A FRAUDSTER who bought a £56,000 house with his girlfriend after she won the lottery before selling it behind her back is facing jail.
Kevin Scott, 46, and his partner Fiona Young bought the property in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, after she won £20,000 on a scratchcard
Both of their names were placed on the deeds, but she moved out after the relationship ended.
Scott went to a local legal firm with another woman pretending to be Young and entered into discussions about selling the terraced property for £45,000.
The deal was signed and Scott pocketed the proceeds before Young, who did not consent to the sale, called in police which led to the scheme being uncovered.
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It was discovered an account belonging to Scott's mother had £40,000 in it while £5,000 had been given to a friend.
The woman pretending to be Young has never been identified.
The house was sold seven months later for £80,000 by the new owner.
Scott, of Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted obtaining £45,000 by fraud between August and October 2018.
Depute fiscal Neil Thomson said: "Miss Young won money from a lottery scratchcard and they bought the property for £56,000 which was paid in full and both their names were placed on the deeds.
"The relationship ended and she moved out of the house leaving him there.
"The accused then entered a local solicitor's firm at that time with another female who claims to be Fiona Young, but is not.
"He then sells the house for £45,000 and it is quickly resold for £80,000.
"This went unnoticed until Miss Young realised she must be due money from the house and found it had been sold without her consent.
"Police are then alerted and the accused is identified.
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"A sum of £40,000 was in his mother's and a further £5,000 was in that belonging to a friend."
Sheriff Ray Small deferred sentence on Scott until next month for reports and continued bail.
But he warned: "All options including custody are still open to the court and you do have a record for crimes of dishonesty."
The sheriff will also consider whether to impose a non-harassment order on Scott to keep him away from his former partner.
