Fraudster Jailed for Swindling Over £100,000 in Bogus Garden Building Scheme
Alistair Baxter, a 36-year-old self-employed joiner and the owner of AB Garden Building Ltd., has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison for defrauding nearly 70 individuals across Scotland. Baxter's scheme involved taking deposits for the construction of garden sheds and summerhouses, which he never delivered, amassing over £100,000 from his victims, many of whom were in their 60s and 70s.
The Stirling Sheriff Court heard how Baxter advertised his services on social media, convincing customers to pay deposits for garden buildings that were never erected. Some victims received partial deliveries of materials, but no actual construction work was completed. In a particularly egregious case, Baxter mocked one victim via message after taking £1,000 in deposits, stating, 'You're not getting your shed, ha ha ha,' and subsequently blocking the individual on Facebook.
Sheriff Derek Hamilton, presiding over the case, remarked on Baxter's 'remarkable greed' and the significant emotional and financial impact on the victims. Despite Baxter's defense attributing his actions to the pressures of the Covid pandemic and theft by an employee, the court found him guilty of a deliberate and fraudulent scheme designed to exploit vulnerable individuals.
Prosecutor Helen Nisbet emphasized the breach of trust and the appalling nature of Baxter's crimes, which have now seen him held accountable. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of due diligence when engaging with contractors and the potential consequences of fraudulent business practices.
