SNS GroupA former Scottish council leader has pleaded not guilty to a £188,000 romance fraud.
Andrew Polson, 52, allegedly swindled the cash from a woman in a supposed property scheme between May 2021 and March 2022.
The ex-East Dunbartonshire Council head currently sits as an independent, having been suspended by the Scottish Conservatives in June 2022 after being elected earlier that year.
Court papers state Polson made false representations to form a business partnership with a woman.
It was claimed ‘AA Lettings’ would carry out administration, servicing, maintenance, renovation and leasing of properties.
Polson allegedly opened a bank account for the firm and claimed to the woman that he would arrange the purchase of a property in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, under joint ownership.
He is stated to have induced the woman to pay £40,500 as her contribution, but the joint title was not secured.
Polson is claimed to have told the woman that she would receive an equal share of the £500 rent per month. It is stated that this did not happen.
A further £200 was allegedly taken from the woman per month for expenditure on the property for which no benefit was provided.
Polson is stated to have also induced her to fork out £146,000 for a property in Bearsden in a similar manner.
Polson is claimed to have not paid any money due from the property to the woman from rent.
The alleged offence is aggravated by involving abuse of his partner or ex-partner.
Polson is further claimed to have made a false loan application in the woman’s name to obtain £25,000 from MBNA in Birmingham.
He is also stated to have attempted to induce M&S Bank in Birmingham of £20,000 by pretending to be her.
Polson is alleged to have obtained £1,500 by pretending to Bank of Scotland to be the woman and transferred the cash to his account.
Polson faces two charges of stealing the woman’s bank card.
Another allegation says Polson embezzled £90,143 between January 2019 and August 2022.
Polson is stated to have been the director and having fiscal responsibility of the now liquidated Revival FM and Revival Radio in Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire.
The charge claims that Polson defrauded the company by drawing, applying and intromitting funds of the company.
Polson is stated to have made payments to himself and others by incurring expenditure for purposes inconsistent with the nature of the company.
It is alleged he used the Revival bank account to transfer funds and deposit cheques unconnected with the company which Polson was not entitled.
Some of the cash was stated to have been transferred to two people who were unconnected with Revival.
Polson is also accused of using the company’s money to gamble and of transferring further funds to a record company.
Revival funds are also stated to have been used to purchase goods, services, travel, and political leafleting.
Another charge says Polson pretended to be the woman to the Bank of Scotland to transfer £3,000 to Revival’s bank account.
He is further stated to have created bogus invoices for Revival and a man and received £5,000.
A similar charge says that Polson was also given £6,000 from Revival by using a different name.
Polson is stated to have used the Revival name to make an invoice for the woman to receive £1,900.
Alistair McGarvey, defending, told a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court that he is not prepared for trial.
He said: “There is a significant disclosure issue and I am in discussions with the Crown about receiving that.
“The estimated length of trial from the Crown is 12 days but the defence estimate is 15 days.”
The lawyer further stated that there will be nine defence witnesses cited.
Prosecutor Sean Docherty told the court that there will be 14 witnesses for the Crown and he is prepared for trial.
Sheriff Joan Kerr set a 15-day trial for September this year as well as two further hearings in April and June.
Polson, of Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, had his bail continued meantime.
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