1 week Ago
A COUPLE were left almost £10,000 out of pocket by a fraudster builder who used their cash to pay off his debts. Christopher Murison took the huge deposit to remodel their kitchen but then made excuses and disappeared with the money without carrying out any of the work. It took months for him to be arrested over the missing money and he immediately admitted his role.
Two years later, he has finally been ordered by a court to repay the money. Fiscal depute Euan Nicholson told Dumbarton Sheriff Court that a couple in Bearsden got in touch with Murison, who acted as a sole trader as "Bonnie Interiors". The pair asked in September 2021 for a kitchen renovation and spoke with the builder several times over months.
A price was agreed at just over £14,000. On November 26, they paid £9,832.87 as a deposit for materials to Murison, of Wellington Street, Wishaw.
There was further contact towards the end of 2021, and just before Christmas he confirmed he had purchased the appliances needed. He said he just needed to secure the services of a painter. The work was due to start in January 2022.
"However, various excuses were given as to why the work could not start," said the prosecutor. "It was agreed work would begin in February and again he failed to attend and renovate the kitchen. "They got in touch to require a refund and he confirmed he used the funds to pay for other jobs.
" The couple contacted trading standards, who eventually told them to contact police. Murison was arrested in October 2022, where he admitted using the £9800 to pay for other jobs to fund his business. When cautioned and charged, he replied: "It was never my intention to get to that point.
" He pleaded guilty to obtaining £9832.87 by fraud. Two years after his arrest, his defence solicitor told the court her client ended up in a "tangle of debt" when an expected payment from another company fell through.
"He accepts he accepted the money from them," she said, describing it as "Peter to pay for Paul". "There was no money left after he paid off other debts he had accrued. "He has accepted full responsibility and recognises it was a large amount the complainers are left without.
" Murison is now working as an HGV driver and taking weekend work to help pay back the money as quickly as possible. Sheriff Seith Ireland said: "This is a case where custody had to be considered. It was a substantial amount of money.
"That's a matter of public concern, depriving people of their kitchen and a substantial amount of money." Because he was a first offender, a community payback order was imposed with supervision for two years and six months. He must pay compensation at £750 per month, and must do 180 hours of unpaid work in the community within 12 months.
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