AYRSHIRE GARDEN WORK FRAUDSTER JAILED FOR THREATS AND SCAMS
A cowboy handyman named Gary Lyle was sentenced to 11 months in prison after he fraudulently took money from multiple victims across Ochiltree, Drongan, Patna, and Ayr last year without completing the work.He also sent obscene and menacing messages to his ex-girlfriend, threatening her and her family with violence.
The court heard he pretended to require payment in advance for construction materials, inducing payments totaling thousands of pounds for work that was never completed.
Specific instances include fraudulently obtaining £2,420 for materials, £1,030 and £875 for labor, and additional sums for building and garden work, all without delivering the promised services.
Lyle also made full admissions after being arrested.
His ex-partner reported that he sent voice notes calling her an 'argumentative weirdo' and making increasingly aggressive threats, including: 'I will burn your house to the ground', 'I will f***ing rip your head off', 'kill you', and 'f***ing murder the lot of you'.
He was represented by solicitor Ian Gillies, who stated that Lyle was experiencing difficulties due to addiction problems at the time and was attempting to recompense those he defrauded.
Sheriff Maria Kicinski described the offences as serious, emphasizing the repeated victimization and threats, and sentenced Lyle to 11 months' imprisonment.
