Fake firm fraudsters used stolen identities of lawyer, detective and pilot in £550k scam

TWO crooks who used the identities of a pilot, lawyer and former detective in a £550,000 bogus company scam have been jailed for a total of four years.

- By Connor Gordon

Brian Docherty and Declan Kearney set up fake firms to hire expensive cars and buy goods, which they then kept from August 2015 to January 2018, Glasgow Sheriff Court was told.

The court previously heard that Docherty and Kearney formed a

Fraudulent

number of companies using stolen details of genuine people, including retired detective sergeant Thomas Rodgers, retired solicitor Andrew Biggart, and pilot David Sweeney.

Prosecutor Ryan Watson said: "Docherty and Kearney would contact legitimate companies. Arrangements would be made for credit facilities and or hire of materials and vehicles, and false documents would be created in the names of genuine people and provided to these companies."

On the rare occasion that a payment was made, it was found to be fraudulent and a cheque would bounce.