Melrose Post Office fraudster ordered to do unpaid work

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A Galashiels man who fraudulently obtained £3,000 at post offices in Melrose and Livingston has been sentenced to a 16-month community payback order with 80 hours of unpaid work.

David Jeffrey was also ordered to repay £1,500 compensation.

The 34-year-old, who lives in Wood Street, pleaded guilty to obtaining £3,000 by fraud at the premises in Buccleuch Street, Melrose, and Main Street, Livingston, between April 28 and May 9.

Jeffrey tendered cheques payable to himself, pretending to staff there were sufficient funds in his account.

Tessa Bradley, prosecuting at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday, said Jeffrey had been effectively passing bad cheques, adding: “Nine cheques were tendered, mostly at Melrose.”

He was also ordered to pay £68 compensation for fuel he stole from Sainsbury’s at Cameron Toll, Edinburgh, on June 12, and £77 compensation for committing a similar offence at Morrisons, Gilmerton Road, also in Edinburgh, on June 28.

Heather Stewart, defence solicitor, said Jeffrey, a self-employed landscape gardener, had provided a copy of his driving licence after filling up with fuel.

She added: “It is not exactly a conventional way of paying for fuel.”