Fraudster Neale Rothera jailed for latest scam in Moray
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AN INFAMOUS conman who once fraudulently sold caravans in Moray has been jailed for masterminding another financial scam.
Neale Rothera was spared prison in 2012 for fleecing seven victims out of £53,000.
However, the 45-year-old was sentenced this morning to two years behind bars for perpetrating another elaborate deception in Moray.
Passing sentence at the court in Elgin, Sheriff Gary Aitken said: "I can see no alternative to custody."
Procurator fiscal Alison Young had earlier outlined the detailed facts.
Back in 2013, under the false name of James Gardner, Rothera had contacted a company called Skipton Business Finance.
The company, which is based in North Yorkshire, helps out small businesses who are waiting for invoices to be paid.
In return for a cut, Skipton pays out the full amount immediately.
A representative flew up to Moray and was given a tour by 'James Gardner' around an office in Tomintoul.
The office was purportedly occupied by a company called Sutherlands Giftware Ltd.
The representative was also shown some bogus paperwork.
An agreement was ultimately signed in the café at Inverness Airport before the return flight.
Between November 4 and December 3, 2013, Skipton Business Finance paid out on 11 invoices it received from Sutherlands Giftware Ltd.
Together, these invoices totalled £48,530.
Rothera went on the run after the scam was discovered.
He first went to Spain but was eventually arrested four years later in Latvia.
Legal proceedings were initially delayed after it was discovered he had developed a brain tumour.
Rothera, whose address is given in court documents as Quorn, near Loughborough, has been held on remand since he appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court on January 24.
Speaking this morning, his defence solicitor Matthew O'Neill asked for a limited degree of leniency as Rothera has a wife and young child.
The court was told that the woman will have no access to benefits as she is Ukrainian.
Back in 2012, Rothera was caught selling holiday homes at Silver Sands in Lossiemouth which belonged to other people.
At the time he was ordered to pay the money back and to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work for the community.
