Ex-Tory council leader Andrew Polson jailed for romance scam ordered to repay £197,000

Prosecutors are seeking to recoup £197,000 from a council leader previously convicted of romance fraud. 

Andrew Polson, 54, duped his partner into handing him the cash in a property scam between May 2021 and March 2022.

The former East Dunbartonshire Council head convinced the woman, 72, that they would own homes together, which would be refurbished and sold or rented out for profit.

However, the then Conservative politician put his sole name on the title deeds of two properties without telling her.

Polson also used the money the woman transferred into the company accounts for property repairs to fund his lifestyle, which included trips and his mother-in-law’s birthday party.

Polson – who was the director of charity radio station Revival FM – used their bank card to pay for an outing to a casino and refurbishments for one of the properties.

Polson – who latterly sat as an independent – was jailed for 22 months last November after he was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of defrauding the woman.

He was also convicted of embezzling £9,018.47 from Revival FM.

Polson was back in the dock for a confiscation hearing before Sheriff Tony Kelly.

Craig Broadley, defending, told the court that he has instructed an expert “to verify” the Crown’s figures.

A court document states that the Crown are seeking a total of £197,018.47, which is claimed to be the “minimum benefit amount” from Polson’s conduct. 

The matter was adjourned until December.

It was also revealed that an appeal lodged by Polson was refused in July.