Ex-Conservative council leader jailed for romance scam

Former Conservative council leader Andrew Polson has been jailed after defrauding his partner.

The 53-year-old denied defrauding Ann Kelly, 72, of £186,000, and of embezzling another £9,000 from the Christian radio station where he was a director.

He was found guilty following a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court in October and has today been jailed for almost two years.

Fraser Gibson, procurator fiscal for Glasgow and Strathkelvin, said: “Andrew Polson exploited the kindness of his former partner to fund his own lifestyle. 

“Romance fraud is a particularly appalling crime that has both an emotional and financial impact. 

"Financial crime cases can be complex, but the evidence presented during the trial made the criminal activity clear.”

Polson was a Scottish Conservative candidate in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election and led East Dunbartonshire council until May the following year.

He was suspended by the Conservatives after the charges came to light, going on to sit as an independent in the Bearsden South ward.

The trial heard that he stole from Kelly between May 2021 and March 2022 in a property scam.

The radio station director induced her to transfer money to him under the false pretence that she was investing in two homes and a lettings firm. 

However, he put his sole name on the title deeds of both properties without telling her and used her money to fund his lifestyle. 

Polson also embezzled £9,000 from Cumbernauld-based Revival FM, where he worked with Kelly.

The trial heard that the pair had met through church and known each other for a long period prior to the scam.

They were in an on-off in a relationship from 2013 which restarted during the pandemic and Polson persuaded Kelly to pay £40,500 to buy out his ex-wife’s share of a house in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire. She believed they would jointly own half of the property and receive half of any rental income. But prosecutors showed Polson became the sole owner a month later. 

When she transferred £146,000 for the purchase of a home in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, she thought that would be solely in her name. But Polson registered himself as the sole owner just six days later. 

She also deposited around £200 a month into AA Lettings, a firm the pair set up to cover repair costs on the two properties. When Kelly saw a bank statement for the firm in March 2022, she suspected she was the victim of fraudulent activity.  

After examining the accounts, she believed she was funding Polson's lifestyle, which included paying for weekends away and his mother-in-law's 70th birthday party. 

Following discussions with bank officials, police were alerted and an investigation began.

The court further heard that Polson used Revival Radio’s debit card to pay for a casino outing and property refurbishments.  

Polson, who is also subject to a three-year non-harassment order, was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment. He will now be subject to confiscation proceedings under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover monies illegally obtained. 

Polson's sentence means he faces disqualification as a councillor. His profile has been removed from the East Dunbartonshire Council website. The local authority said a byelection will be called in due course, but there is no timeframe for this as yet.