A chef from Monifieth drained more than £7,500 from his 80-year-old grandmother’s bank account to repay his drug debts.
Bank app fraudster Alan Fettes previously admitted swindling his own grandmother out of the four-figure sum after receiving threats over money he owed.
Cocaine addict Fettes was not present at Forfar Sheriff Court when his lawyer pled guilty on his behalf but appeared last week when he was due to be sentenced.
Fettes has now been given until December to save up money to recompense his grandmother or to sell the house he inherited.
Fettes, 25, admitted that between April and May of 2023, he used an online banking app to pretend to Bank of Scotland he was his grandmother and was authorised to use a bank account in her name.
He admitted he knew this was not the case and went on to transfer £7,626 into his account fraudulently.
Prosecutor Kate Scarborough said: “The complainer is the accused’s grandmother. She became aware of transactions which she had not authorised.
“Investigations by the police determined that the accused had been making payments out of her account and into his account.”
‘Very serious’ cocaine addiction
Defence lawyer Mark Robbins said: “Given the nature of this case, it’s probably quite obvious that Mr Fettes feels remorseful of his behaviour.
“He is quite rightly ashamed, he understands fully this was a breach of trust of a family member.
“He had developed a drug addiction after the passing of his mother. She left him the family home. It was a very difficult position for any young man.
“He filled the void with a very serious cocaine addiction which he’s managed to stop.
“He had large debts and threats were made.
“He accepts fine well that he used online banking to transfer serious amounts of money.
“Mr Fettes, I would say, has had a very difficult upbringing. His father was involved in drugs.
“He comes across as a very intelligent young man.”
‘Cusp of custody’
Mr Robbins explained his client is working as a chef at Forbes of Kingennie and will be able to begin making repayments.
Sheriff Mark Thorley deferred sentencing until December 18.
He said: “He’s taken by fraud from an elderly woman.
“The first thought that the court has is custody. I think this is the cusp of custody.
“He’s got six months. He can decide whether he sells the house.”
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