Ex-council boss jailed for fraud

Eddie Aldridge stood to benefit from the forgery

The former convener of Moray Council has been jailed for 18-months after admitting forging the will of an elderly neighbour.

Eddie Aldridge became the main beneficiary of Mary Coutts' estate, which was worth more than £100,000.

He had pleaded guilty to changing the 93-year-old's will in January.

Elgin Sheriff Court was told that Aldridge admitted his actions were stupid but that he had not considered the criminality of what he was doing.

His lawyer, Ronnie Renucci QC, said his client was merely trying to make sure that his neighbour's croft remained within her family and was not sold off.

He has told a pack of lies in there - for us it has been two years of trauma Lesley Miles Mrs Coutts' niece

But the sheriff told Aldridge he had committed a "very serious and grave offence" for his own gain.

A complaint by Mrs Coutts' niece, Lesley Miles, led to the police inquiry.

Speaking outside court, Ms Miles said Aldridge had preyed on her aunt and taken advantage of her.

She said: "It is justice at the end of the day.

"He has told a pack of lies in there - for us it has been two years of trauma."

Handwriting expert

Aldridge, from Archiestown, Speyside, had worked for the council for 35 years before resigning at the start of June.

The court was told that when Mrs Coutts died, in June 2002, Aldridge helped her family clear out her house and was given his own key.

Before the house was put on the market, Ms Miles' solicitor received a call informing her there was a second will in existence.

The will was dated 7 June - 13 days before Mrs Coutts died and named Aldridge as the main beneficiary.

A forensic handwriting expert who examined both the wills concluded that Mrs Coutts' signature in the second will was a forgery.

He thought time was running out and that the croft would be lost to the family, and that is why he embarked on this escapade Ronnie Renucci defence lawyer

Grampian Police searched Aldridge's home and discovered a 20-year-old will relating to Mrs Coutts' property and found that the handwriting on the signature had been overwritten.

Fiscal Sharon Ralph said: "From investigations that the police have carried out, it would appear that the forged will was signed after Mrs Coutts' death."

Mr Renucci told the court: "Mr Aldridge accepts that for whatever reason, he became somewhat angry and annoyed; that he had thought that the sale of the croft was ultimately a betrayal of what Mrs Coutts had wanted."

He added: "He thought time was running out and that the croft would be lost to the family, and that is why he embarked on this escapade."

The court heard that Aldridge had been affected both financially and emotionally by what had happened.

Cries of "yes" could be heard from Mrs Coutts' family, who were in court as Sheriff Donald Booker-Millburn sentenced Aldridge to 18 months in prison.