'Gumtree conman' George Campbell given probation
A man who used counterfeit bank notes to pay for goods that he bought on the classifieds website Gumtree has been given a two-year probation order.
George Campbell, 30, from Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining a watch, two rings, and a bicycle totalling £7,700.
Campbell was caught after a friend informed the police.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court Campbell was fined £400 and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of community service.
The offences which Campbell admitted took place between December 2009 and February 2010.
The court heard how he arranged to meet George McDowall in December 2009 in Glasgow after pretending he wanted to buy a £3,000 watch from him.
The money he handed over in an envelope to Mr McDowall was counterfeit.
Campbell then arranged, at various locations in Glasgow for £1,400 to be given to Jacqueline Smith for a ring, £1,200 to Rizwan Saleem for a ring, and £1,700 to Aaron Lowe for a bicycle.
The court was told that the money handed to them, by an unknown person, was fake.
After showing interest to George McDowall again and agreeing to buy a ring from him, Campbell's friend met with him to hand over the cash.
Mr McDowall was waiting with PC Alan Sneddon when counterfeit notes were again handed over.
Campbell's friend then admitted what had been going on.
Sheriff Martin Jones QC told Campbell, who has a previous conviction for dishonesty: "I have decided I can deal with this by way of a non custodial sentence."