A disabled pensioner says she’s been left in a “living hell” after being scammed out of thousands of pounds by a bogus tradesman who took her money and disappeared.
Sheena Rollo, from Dumbarton, believed a painter calling himself “Shane Light” was doing a good job on her home until he vanished with her cash, leaving behind a mess and sparking a police investigation.
When Sheena, 69, needed work done, she turned to family for advice. Her brother-in-law, Robert, recommended the man, who had also been carrying out similar work at his property.
Sheena, who has osteoporosis and requires a walking aid, told STV News: “The next day, Shane Light came round to the house and had a look. As soon as he got out of the car, he took a sharp intake of breath and said, ‘Big job, big job, twice the size, twice the cost’.
“I had no reason to distrust him and thought ‘well, my brother-in-law has had him and he’s still working at his property’.”
But neither Sheena nor Robert knew that “Shane Light” was actually Shane Daniel Alliston – and he was about to scam them both.
Sheena said: “On the first day he came to start the job, he told me that because it was a big job, it would cost £6,500. He said ‘we usually ask for a deposit and it’s half up front’.
“I just went to the bank and withdrew the £2,250 deposit that he had asked for.”
After just one day of work, the decorator asked for the remaining balance, which Sheena handed over. Two days later, he claimed he had run out of paint and would return soon. He never came back.
Instead, Sheena was bombarded with WhatsApp messages and excuses.
“He told me, ‘I don’t know when I’m going to get it, but I’m going down to Robert’s house and I’m going to see what I can do for him down there’. I phoned my brother-in-law and he didn’t know what I was talking about.
“I think that’s when the penny dropped.”
Sheena has been left thousands of pounds out of pocket, not only paying for the original work but also facing additional costs to repair the damage.
Her brother-in-law has found himself in a similar position.
Robert, 70, lost his wife, Mary (Sheena’s sister), to multiple sclerosis in 2024, and wanted to give their home in Helensburgh a mini makeover.
“I mean, if the guy had totally finished the job, I would have been none the wiser that he had given me a bad job – I would be singing his praises,” explained Robert.
“But it wasn’t until I got another painter in to finish the job that I realised I had been conned.”
Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating the case and plan to speak to Sheena.
Shane Alliston did not respond to STV News when offered the chance to comment.
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