Alpaca man admits fraud
A man who “disappeared” from his home last November, sparking a huge search from the emergency services, has admitted fraudulently obtaining more than £11,000 of his wife’s money.
Colin Arnot, 55, of Stucca, Hillswick, did not appear at Lerwick Sheriff Court yesterday but pleaded guilty by letter in a “lengthy explanation”.
According to the charges, between 2nd September and 13th December, at Midgarth, North Roe, Arnot forged his wife Philippa’s signature on a savings account closure form with the investment company Scottish Widows.
He instructed Scottish Widows to transfer the balance of that savings account to a current account in his wife’s name, from which he then “feloniously accessed” £11,615.67, using her bank card and PIN.
Sheriff Philip Mann deferred sentence on Arnot until 26th June for a personal appearance.
Arnot, who stood for the council in 2012, had been keeping alpacas, with his wife on their croft at the time he disappeard. He turned up at hospital in Lerwick a week later.
