Latest news with #Mackland
The Courier
5 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
Angus farming firms swindler jailed for five years
A swindler who cheated farming firms, including in Angus, out of £630,000 has been jailed for five years. Barry Mackland was told by a judge at the High Court in Glasgow he had 'exploited' others, who had been left out of pocket by his 'wheeling and dealing'. He had earlier been found guilty after a trial in Edinburgh of three charges of fraud and one of theft, carried out between February and June 2022 in the north-east of Scotland. Mackland, 50, of Aberdeen, had denied the offences with his lawyers insisting he had simply been unable to repay debts racked up in his own business. Jurors heard how he had turned up at Barctrac Ltd at Finavon, near Forfar, removed two tractors and then sold them to a third party. In a separate crime, Mackland went to Gammies Groundcare Ltd in Forfar and claimed cheques in the name of his business – The Firm of Barry Kenneth Mackland – would be honoured at the bank. These were used to supply him with £179,000 of machinery but it turned out there was not enough cash in the account to pay for the goods. In a similar con, cheques bounced after he got £320,000 of machines from a forklift company. Mackland again sold the equipment to get cash. A man was duped after Mackland told him he could supply a £52,200 JCB Telehandler. David Moggach KC told the court his client maintains his innocence. The KC stated the financial situation at the time for Mackland had 'got worse' and he had 'struggled to keep his head above water'. Sentencing, judge Lord Harrower said: 'You were not a con-man, who tricks an unsuspecting stranger out of his money and is never seen again. 'Most of your customers had dealt with you over many years. 'These dealings were based almost entirely on trust. For many years, your business appeared to flourish. 'However, when things started to go wrong, as they did in the Spring of 2022, your wheeling and dealing exposed your customers to unacceptable levels of risk. 'You fraudulently exploited your customers' goodwill in an increasingly desperate attempt to keep your business going.' Mackland – who showed no emotion as he was led to the cells – faces further action under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Moira Orr, who leads on Major Crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: 'Fraud is not a victimless crime. 'It strikes at and erodes the basis of trust upon which all businesses rightly depend. We take such criminality very seriously. 'Businesses and individuals suffered considerable financial harm as a consequence of Barry Mackland's crimes.' The Courier told how businesses in the north-east have changed their practises in light of Mackland's crimes.
STV News
5 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Businessman who defrauded firms and stole tractors worth £630,000 jailed
A man who defrauded businesses out of hundreds of thousands of pounds and stole agricultural machinery from Scottish firms has been jailed. Barry Mackland, 50, caused businesses based in the north east to sustain losses of £630,000 throughout 2022. In July, the High Court in Edinburgh heard how Mackland, of Aberdeen, stole tractors from a company and sold them to a third party, pocketing the cash. He also pretended to other businesses that the cheques he presented to them would be honoured if they were handed over at a bank. However, these companies lost out as there were insufficient funds in Mackland's account to make the payments, but he would still obtain machinery worth tens of thousands of pounds. Mackland was found guilty by a jury of defrauding three agricultural firms in a swindle worth £630,000 by obtaining money through false pretences. The offending took place between March 2022 and June 2022 and involved two firms in Forfar, one in Stonehaven and a fourth in Lincolnshire. Evidence revealed how he persuaded the Scottish dealers to supply him with vehicles to the value of £500,000, knowing the cheques he used as payment would bounce. Payment was never made, and the vehicles were not returned. He also pretended to the company in Lincolnshire that he would supply them with a JCB for £52,200 and then failed to supply the vehicle or return the money. In total, the overall value of his fraudulent activity was put at £630,000. On Thursday, Mackland was sentenced to five years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow. He will also be subject to confiscation action under Proceeds of Crime laws to recover funds illegally obtained. Mackland's lawyer David Moggach told the court: 'He still maintains the position that he had at trial.' The KC stated the financial situation at the time for Mackland had 'got worse' and that he had 'struggled to keep his head above water'. Lord Harrower said Mackland's own business had involved sourcing and supplying plant equipment in the UK and what he described as 'Europe-wide'. Sentencing, the judge added: 'You were not a con-man, who tricks an unsuspecting stranger out of his money and is never seen again. 'Most of your customers had dealt with you over many years. 'These dealings were based almost entirely on trust. For many years, your business appeared to flourish. 'However, when things started to go wrong, as they did in the spring of 2022, your wheeling and dealing exposed your customers to unacceptable levels of risk. 'You fraudulently exploited your customers' goodwill in an increasingly desperate attempt to keep your business going.' Moira Orr, who leads on major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: 'Fraud is not a victimless crime. It strikes at and erodes the basis of trust upon which all businesses rightly depend. We take such criminality very seriously. 'Businesses and individuals suffered considerable financial harm as a consequence of Barry Mackland's crimes. 'But thanks to partnership working between Police Scotland and the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service, he has been brought to account for his crimes. 'As prosecutors, we are wholly committed to tackling financial crime of this kind.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Fraudster who swindled £630k from Scots farming firms through bounced cheques jailed
Barry Mackland pretended to firms that the cheques he presented to them for tractors and machinery would be honoured if they were handed to a bank. A fraudster who swindled farming firms out of £630,000 through a system of bounced cheques has been jailed for five years. Barry Mackland, 50, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday. Mackland, of Aberdeen, caused the businesses to lose more than half a million pounds by obtaining the cash through false pretences between March 2022 and June 2022. He pretended to other firms that the cheques he presented to them for tractors and machinery would be honoured if they were handed to a bank. However, the companies lost out when there were insufficient funds in Mackland's account to make the payments. Mackland was still able to obtain the ill-gained goods worth tens of thousands of pounds. His offending involved two businesses in Forfar, one in Stonehaven and a fourth in Lincolnshire. Evidence led in court by prosecutors revealed how he persuaded the Scottish dealers to supply him with vehicles to the value of £500,000 - knowing the cheques he used as payment would bounce. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Payment was never made and the vehicles were not returned. And he pretended to the company in Lincolnshire that he would supply them with a JCB for £52,200 and then failed to supply the vehicle or return the money. In total, the overall value of his fraudulent activity was put at £630,000. He was found guilty of defrauding three agricultural companies by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh. Moira Orr, who leads on Major Crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said: 'Fraud is not a victimless crime. It strikes at and erodes the basis of trust upon which all businesses rightly depend. We take such criminality very seriously. 'Businesses and individuals suffered considerable financial harm as a consequence of Barry Mackland's crimes. 'But thanks to partnership working between Police Scotland and the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service, he has been brought to account for his crimes. 'As prosecutors, we are wholly committed to tackling financial crime of this kind.'
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Businessman who defrauded firms in £630k swindle jailed
He was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday. Mackland, 50, of Aberdeen, pretended to other businesses that the cheques he presented to them for tractors and machinery would be honoured if they were handed to a bank. However, those companies lost out as there were insufficient funds in Mackland's account to make the payments, but he still obtained goods worth tens of thousands of pounds. READ MORE: NHS worker who murdered his wife jailed for life Man jailed after £100k shed swindling scheme Man jailed over bid to import £5m of cocaine from Mexico to Scotland Moira Orr, who leads on Major Crime for COPFS, said: 'Fraud is not a victimless crime. It strikes at and erodes the basis of trust upon which all businesses rightly depend. We take such criminality very seriously. 'Businesses and individuals suffered considerable financial harm as a consequence of Barry Mackland's crimes. 'But thanks to partnership working between Police Scotland and the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service, he has been brought to account for his crimes. 'As prosecutors, we are wholly committed to tackling financial crime of this kind.' Mackland's offending took place between March 2022 and June 2022 and involved two firms in Forfar, one in Stonehaven and a fourth in Lincolnshire. Evidence led in court by prosecutors revealed how he persuaded the Scottish dealers to supply him with vehicles to the value of £500,000 knowing the cheques he used as payment would bounce. Payment was never made and the vehicles were not returned. And he pretended to the company in Lincolnshire that he would supply them with a JCB for £52,200 and then failed to supply the vehicle or return the money. In total, the overall value of his fraudulent activity was put at £630,000. Mackland will now be subject to confiscation action under Proceeds of Crime laws to recover funds illegally obtained.
STV News
04-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Businessman defrauded firms and stole tractors worth £630,000
A businessman has been found guilty of a scam which saw him defraud and steal agricultural machinery from Scottish firms. Barry Mackland, 50, caused businesses based in the north east to sustain losses of £630,000 throughout 2022. The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Mackland, of Aberdeen, stole tractors from a company and sold them to a third party, pocketing the cash. He also pretended to other businesses that the cheques he presented to them would be honoured if they were handed over at a bank. However, these companies lost out as there were insufficient funds in Mackland's account to make the payments, but he would still obtain machinery worth tens of thousands of pounds. Mackland denied any wrongdoing or breaking the law. His lawyers claimed he had sustained debts which he couldn't pay back. Prosecutors originally charged him with causing businesses to sustain £1,778,115 of losses. But jurors acquitted him of a number of charges whilst convicting him on four charges of theft and fraud. Prosecutors are now set to launch an action against Mackland under the Proceeds of Crime Act in a bid to recover the money. Judge Lord Harrower deferred sentence for the court to obtain a report about Mackland's background and character. Lord Harrower told him: 'These are very serious charges. According to my calculations, you have caused businesses to sustain losses of £630,000. 'Fraud strikes at and erodes the basis of trust upon which all business depend upon.' During proceedings, the court heard how Mackland turned up at the premises of Barctrac Ltd in Forfar on February 23, 2022. He then removed two tractors from the premises of the firm without obtaining consent from staff at the business. He sold the machines to a third party without the consent of the machine's owners. The court heard how Mackland then made £83,100 by theft. Jurors heard evidence about how, on various occasions between March 4, 2022, and May 11, 2022, at locations in Aberdeen and a firm in Forfar, Mackland committed another crime. Mackland pretended to Gammies Groundcare Ltd that cheques presented by him in the name of his business, The Firm of Barry Kenneth Mackland, would be honoured at the bank. Mackland then induced Leslie Gammie to supply him with machinery by paying him by cheque. The court heard that there were insufficient funds in Mackland's account to pay for the items – he then received machinery worth £179,295.60 from Gammie's Groundcare Limited. On various occasions between March 17, 2022, and April 7, 2022, Mackland repeatedly pretended to Derek Meston, of DM Forklifts Limited, that cheques presented by him would also be honoured. He then obtained machines from the company worth £320,400 and sold them to third parties when the cheques bounced. The court also heard that between May 10, 2022, and June 15, 2022, Mackland pretended to Richard Setchfield, of RC Setchfield Limited, that he would supply him with a JCB Telehandler. The court heard that Mackland then induced Mr Setchfield to pay £52,200 for the JCB Telehandler and that he obtained the cash fraudulently. Police learned about Mackland's scheme and launched an investigation against him. Detectives found enough evidence to bring Mackland to court. During proceedings, the court heard prosecutor Colin Edward KC urge jurors to convict Mackland of the charges against him on the indictment. He added: 'He must have known the cheques which he presented could not be satisfied.' Defence lawyer David Moggach KC told the jury that his client hadn't committed fraud or theft but was unable to repay debts which he had accrued during business. He said this didn't amount to breaking the law. Mr Moggach added: 'Fraud does not extend to a simple failure to pay your debts. You can incur debts for a variety of reasons – none of them made fraudulently. 'And that's what I say to you we have here.' A proceeds of crime action will be called against Mackland later this year. Lord Harrower allowed Mackland bail. He is expected to be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on August 14, 2025. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
