A bogus workman, who preyed on an elderly woman, was caught in the act by police after they were alerted by worried bank staff.
The victim had gone to the Clydesdale Bank in Dunfermline to withdraw £680 for repairs to her kitchen ceiling, which were not required.
Edward McCallum had taken retired teacher Jean Semple to the town centre to withdraw the cash but the scam failed because of the quick actions of bank staff.
McCallum, 24, of The Hallows, Kirkcaldy, was found guilty of attempted fraud after a trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
The court heard Miss Semple, 85, returned home from a night at the theatre on December 13 at around 10pm and discovered McCallum was on her roof.
She already knew him as he had previously done work for her, after repeatedly turning up on the doorstep.
On this occasion he claimed he was checking to see if there was any wind damage to the roof.
Miss Semple said: “He said he’d come back to check even though it was 10 o’clock at night and dark.
“I thought it was very strange and an unlikely excuse to make.”
The pensioner said McCallum told her he wanted to look at her kitchen and came back the next day.
He got up on a stool, knocked on the ceiling a few times and told her one corner “needed attention” costing £680, even though he did not specify what the work was.
“He didn’t say exactly what needed to be done. I must have said ‘yes’ anyway,” said Miss Semple.
When McCallum came back to do the work, he had a young man with him and claimed there was a delivery of building materials which would have to be paid for.
Miss Semple gave McCallum £40 and offered to pay the rest by cheque but he turned this down, saying he would take her to the bank.
Miss Semple said she thought she asked for around £800 including some for day-to-day expenses.
“The girl at the bank was not happy with this money I asked for.
“She asked what it was for. When she heard, she said she thought the police should know about it.”
Miss Semple said: “I think there was a bit of relief that somebody was going to help me in this matter.
“At that time I was a bit upset about the whole thing. I felt angry with myself for being taken in.
“We’re always being warned about doorstep callers and I had allowed myself to be taken in.
“It wasn’t a one-off. They had money for previous jobs, as they called them.
“I felt this wasn’t right somehow. He felt he’d found an easy touch here because of being paid previously.”
Clydesdale Bank worker Elizabeth Williamson, 54, said: “I took her into a private room and asked her a few questions. She was a little distressed, a little bit confused.”
Sentence was deferred until February 10 for reports and McCallum, who appeared from custody, was refused bail.