A serial conman who ripped off elderly people claims he is broke and cannot pay back £94,000 he earned from his crimes.
Gerry Meechan, 55, was branded "abhorrent" by a sheriff and jailed for nearly six years after admitting a string of charges including fraud. But the career crook, who has similar convictions dating back more than 20 years, says he has no assets to settle a proceeds of crime claim.
Fraudulent building work and unpaid hotel bill
Airdrie Sheriff Court heard Meechan swindled £55,000 from victims in Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire who paid for building and repair work that was never done.
While on the run from police, Meechan, of Lanark, enjoyed a three-month stay at Castlecary House Hotel, near Cumbernauld, before leaving without paying a four-figure bill. He also conned a Glasgow woman who paid him nearly £10,000 for a car that he failed to deliver.
Court hearing delays
Meechan, who usually posed as a builder, conned householders despite having been hit with a UK-wide unfair trading ban in 2018. In some cases he approached his victims after they appealed for tradesmen on Facebook. He often used a false name.
South Lanarkshire Council had secured a court order prohibiting him from "engaging in unfair trading throughout the United Kingdom".
He was jailed for the latest crimes last December and was back in the dock this week for a proceeds of crime hearing that has been dragging on since February.
Sheriff Tony McGlennan was unhappy at delays in the process, telling lawyer Fraser McKinnon: "One might get the impression that Mr Meechan is deliberately kicking the matter into the long grass."
Mr McKinnon asked for more time to respond to the Crown's demand for Meechan's criminal earnings to be handed over. He said: "Although my client obtained money from these crimes, he does not have any assets. He has no house and while he had two bank accounts these were closed due to inactivity."
Mr McKinnon said he required more time to establish if there is any money available to settle the case. The sheriff agreed a four-week adjournment but warned: "I expect matters to be resolved on that occasion."
