Prosecutors seek £197,000 from ex-council leader over romance fraud

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 11:34 · Archive

Prosecutors are seeking to recoup £197,000 from an ex-council leader convicted of defrauding his lover in a property scam.

Prosecutors are seeking to recoup £197,000 from Andrew Polson, 54, a former East Dunbartonshire Council leader. Between May 2021 and March 2022, Polson convinced his 72-year-old lover Ann Kelly that they would jointly own and profit from refurbished properties. He placed only his own name on the title deeds of two properties without her knowledge. Polson used money Miss Kelly transferred into company accounts for property repairs to fund his lifestyle, which included holidays, a casino outing and his mother-in-law's birthday party.

Polson, who initially sat as a Conservative councillor before becoming an independent, was jailed for 22 months last November at Glasgow Sheriff Court after being found guilty of defrauding Miss Kelly. He was also convicted of embezzling £9,018.47 from Revival FM, a charity radio station he directed, using their bank card for personal expenses.

At a confiscation hearing before Sheriff Tony Kelly today, the Crown sought a total of £197,018.47, described as the 'minimum benefit amount' from Polson's conduct. The defence has instructed an expert to verify these figures. The matter was adjourned until December. Polson's appeal, lodged previously, was refused in July.

How it is being reported

• 'Tinder Swindler' ex-council leader could be stripped of £197k after romance fraudProsecutors seek £197,018 from former East Dunbartonshire Council leader Andrew Polson after romance fraud conviction and Revival FM embezzlement.Glasgow Times · 14 Oct, 11:04
• Crown seeks to recover £197,000 from ex-council leader jailed over romance fraudAndrew Polson, 54, duped his lover Ann Kelly, 72, into handing him the cash in a property scam between May 2021 and March 2022The Herald · 14 Oct, 10:31

In this story: Andrew Polson · Ann Kelly · East Dunbartonshire Council · Revival FM · Glasgow Sheriff Court

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