A serial conman who defrauded elderly people out of £94,000 has been ordered to pay back just £1 after prosecutors accepted he is bankrupt.
Gerry Meechan, 55, was jailed for five years and eight months last December after admitting frauds against householders in Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. His crimes were described as "abhorrent" by a sheriff.
Fraudulent Building Work
Meechan took money from people who paid for building and repair work that was never carried out. He has previous convictions spanning more than 20 years.
While on the run from police, Meechan, of Lanark, stayed at Castlecary House Hotel, near Cumbernauld, for three months before leaving without paying a four-figure bill. He also conned a Glasgow woman who paid him nearly £10,000 for a car he never delivered.
Targeting Vulnerable Victims
Meechan, who usually posed as a builder, targeted vulnerable victims despite a UK-wide unfair trading ban imposed in 2018. In some cases, he responded to Facebook appeals for tradesmen and often used a false name.
Proceeds of Crime Action
After his conviction, the Crown launched a proceeds of crime action to reclaim Meechan's ill-gotten gains. His lawyer, Fraser McKinnon, told Airdrie Sheriff Court that Meechan has no assets. "Although my client obtained money from these crimes, he does not have any assets," McKinnon said. "He has no house and, while he had two bank accounts, these were closed due to inactivity."
When the case called again on Tuesday, McKinnon said: "Investigations have been carried out and these confirm that my client has no funds. That position has been accepted by the Crown."
Sheriff Derek Livingston ruled that Meechan earned £94,081.98 through his crimes but ordered him to pay back only a nominal £1. The sheriff said it is open to the Crown to raise proceedings again "if his financial position improves".
