A squatter has attempted to sell a cottage in the Scottish Borders for £70,000 without the owner's knowledge.

A court heard how 36-year-old Ewan Turner moved into a two-bedroom cottage in Walkerburn after realising the property was vacant.

He then tried to make money from the sale of Kirnie Cottage by pretending to be the owner and getting an estate agent to put it on the market.

The plan came about following the death of the owner, who had left the dwelling to a beneficiary. Turner was already a squatter in the property at that time, and decided to pretend to be the owner and sell it.

-- Advertisement --

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told the attempt was "doomed to failure". The court heard how police were called when a 'For Sale' sign was erected in the garden.

Turner’s lawyer Greg McDonnel said: "The moment he contacted any solicitor in respect of an offer, it would be discovered the property would not be in his name.

"When an offer was made he took the property off the market and tried to let it out instead."

Turner admitted pretending to be the owner of the cottage, attempting to induce someone to sell it on his behalf and fraud.

He had been able to convince an estate agent to sell it for him by providing a council tax bill, an energy bill and letters from Scottish Water with his name on it.

Turner, of Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, said he had spent £8,000 making the cottage liveable and putting in new flooring, electrics and doors. He was also paying the energy bills.

His sentence has been deferred until 17 December for background reports.

(IT)