Lanarkshire fraudster who convinced victim to invest £20k in non-existent property firm avoids jail
John Fay has been ordered to use his time to find a way to repay his victim, who is still waiting for compensation. 08:34, 04 Jul 2026A woman who lost £20,000 after being convinced to invest in a non-existent. . .
John Fay has been ordered to use his time to find a way to repay his victim, who is still waiting for compensation. 08:34, 04 Jul 2026A woman who lost £20,000 after being convinced to invest in a non-existent landscaping company is still waiting for compensation as herfraudsteravoided a jail sentence. The victim, fromEast Kilbride, was targeted by fraudster John Fay, 41. Fay convinced his victim she would double her money on the ‘fantastic’ investment. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that he instead took her money, failed to send her formal papers and paid her no dividends,the Daily Record reports. Fay admitted defrauding the woman between June 2022 and February the following year. He was told by Sheriff Kevin McCallum that the woman had suffered a "significant" financial loss as a result of his "nasty" offence. Despite this however Fay avoided a jail sentence, as the sheriff instead deferred sentence until January for good behaviour, and ordered him to use that time to gather funds to repay the woman. Earlier the court heard that Fay had done landscaping work at his victim's garden in Barbana Road, East Kilbride, in May 2022. Rosemary O'Neill, prosecuting, said: "The work was completed and the woman paid in full. "The accused, whom she knew as Robert, then sent her a WhatsApp message saying he had spaces for investors in a new landscaping company. "He said this involved paying £10-£20,000 and investors would get double their money back every year. "Fay said the woman would get a payment every three months and described it as a fantastic opportunity. It would change the lives of everyone involved. "Fay also claimed to be developing “stunning” properties in Ayrshire and had plans to build 300 homes on a ‘massive’ area of land, telling his victim: "We'll do so well together for so many years to come. "His victim, aged 45, agreed to transfer £20,000 to a bank account belonging toFay's fiancee, who he said was a director of the new firm. Despite repeated promises by Fay, a contract for the agreement never arrived, and when she questioned him he said he needed more money from investors, adding: “After four months you will have your full money back and then it's just 100 per cent profit. "Article continues belowWhen she contacted the Citizens' Advice Bureau and sent Fay a letter of complaint, he replied saying: "How dare you make up lies and tell the bank it's fraud. If you stop the silly accusations I'll sort everything out for you. Until then I'm not willing to help. "Fay was reported to the police by the woman in February 2023. She has yet to be repaid any of the £20,000Defence agent Paul Gallagher said Fay has mental health issues and is "engaging with services".