A MAN who was involved in defrauding OAP’s of more than £9500 claimed he was forced to after meeting a stranger to buy drugs.

Mark Forte, 32, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to his part in the crime that took place on June 18, 2019.

Fiscal depute Paula Wedlock said: “At 1.15pm, the complainers, both aged 70, were within their home when they received a phone call from a male who called himself Alan Anderson.

“The male stated he was a fraud investigator and informed the complainers that their bank card had been used fraudulently.

“The complainers were then convinced to move £9750 from their joint account by this individual, who convinced them he was a fraud investigator.

“The money was moved into the accused’s bank account. The accused was interviewed on November 23, 2019, and arrested.”

The court heard that the couple were compensated by their bank.

Forte’s lawyer made it clear that his client was not charged with carrying out the deception of the elderly victims.

The defence solicitor added: “He met an individual he dealt with online in order to purchase cannabis.

“When he met that individual, he was prevailed upon to furnish them with his bank details. He was then taken around different financial institutions to withdraw money from his bank which was then handed back over to those who were controlling him.”

Forte, of Clydebank, was charged with acquiring criminal property after withdrawing money from Bank of Scotland on Argyle Street and Bank of Scotland on Victoria Road, following a fraudulent bank transaction.

His lawyer added: “He was under considerable duress. He found himself in a very difficult situation, but he could have acted differently. He felt the individuals were serious about what they were saying to him and was somewhat trapped. Steps could have been taken to stop what was happening to him.”

Sheriff Vincent Lunny asked: “He wasn’t given any cut of it, or drugs, or anything?”

But the lawyer replied: “Nope. That’s what he tells me.

“He has a limited record and there are no matters outstanding. This offence was two and a half years ago now. He is someone who has kept himself employed. He’s started a new job in the last few weeks. He realises the seriousness of the offence, but he was preyed upon himself.”

The sheriff told Forte: “This is a serious matter. I appreciate the circumstances and take it at face value that you were not the person on the phone pretending to be Alan Anderson.

“It’s people in your position that facilitates this type of offending. People looking for drugs end up playing a part in defrauding members of the public, primarily the elderly, and it’s totally unacceptable.

“I’m prepared to deal with this by way of a non-custodial sentence.”

Forte was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and fined £540.