A Ballingry tradesman, who took money for a job but never did the work, has been sentenced.

The victim was 71 at the time of the fraud and has been waiting more than two years to have his money returned.

Dennis Currie took £637 from the victim but the work was never started.

Currie, 45, of Kirkland Avenue, appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He had previously been given time to pay back the money to avoid a conviction.

However, he did not pay it back and then failed to appear for a court hearing resulting in a warrant being granted.

When he returned to the dock, representing himself, he admitted that between June 6 and September 5, 2022 at Kings Road, Rosyth, he pretended he would carry out work and obtained £637 by fraud.

Currie previously told his version of what had happened.

He said: “I took the money and didn’t do the work. That was a one-off and it was because I was going through a difficult period.

“I’ve never done that before in 25 years. I took the money and didn’t go back due to personal circumstances.”

He repeated that story this time and said: “This isn’t in my character.”

Sheriff Krista Johnston ordered Currie to pay compensation of £637 and also fined him £210.