A STRANRAER man falsely claimed his ex-partner had died and that his daughter required 24-hour care in order to defraud his step-dad of £5,000.
This was heard at Stranraer Sheriff Court on Tuesday as James Frazer (32) of Murrayfield Avenue appeared and plead guilty to pretending Fiona Ketteridge had died in a car crash and that daughter Jessica, then aged three, had undergone surgery at York District Hospital.
He told his step-dad William Marshall that he was required to fund the surgery and Jessica's after-care and managed to defraud him of his unemployment benefit every fortnight for 15 months - adding up to £5,000.
In fact, Ms Ketteridge and the youngster were living safe and well in England.
Frazer began the elaborate plan in November 2006 and it continued until April 2nd this year.
Background reports had been called for but Frazer failed to turn up for them, so lawyer Margot Nicol asked for a second chance to allow him to show up.
He was granted this, and will now be sentenced on June 3rd.

A YOUTH who stole cars and set them on fire has avoided jail by the skin of his teeth this week.
Alastair Boag (19) of Old Spittal Croft, Portpatrick admitted stealing cars from various places around Stranraer and setting them on fire after taking Valium and alcohol last November.
Boag was acting with a peer, who was jailed last month for the offences, when he caused £1300 worth of damage to the vehicles which were taken from St Ninian's Avenue and Sheuchan Street.
Fiscal Kenny Grieve also said that the owner of one car in the town had noticed the driver's door had been pulled at, in attempt to break in, and that later another attempt to steal a car was reported after an engine immobiliser kicked in when attempts to hotwire it failed.
A forensic test incriminated Boag and CCTV images caught him and the other youth in the town on the date in question.
In court on Tuesday, he plead guilty to the charges and lawyer Margot Nicol said he had managed to save up £1650 towards the cost of the damage he caused, as he was unsure of the exact amount.
She said: "He has been working overtime at weekends to try and re-pay the victims and has secured a loan from his mother for the rest. He is genuinely scared of going to prison and has shown utter remorse for his actions."
She added that Boag has changed his group of friends since the incident and has begun to engage in a 12-month probation order, imposed for a separate matter.
Sheriff Carole Cunningham said to Boag: "I hope you understand how serious these matters are.
"I have decided by the narrowest of margins, and I must emphasise that, not to put you in custody today.
"I believe remorse has been expressed in the clearest of terms by you and this has been reinforced by the money you have brought with you today."
She went on to impose 300 hours community service on Boag and warned him that if he failed to comply, he would be sent to custody immediately.

AN Irishman who drove the wrong way up a one-way street has been banned from driving for a year.
Jonathan Enright (39) from Northland Road, Londonderry was seen on CCTV and spotted by other motorists as he drove up George Street, Stranraer in the path of oncoming traffic.
His lawyer said he had become confused at the one-way system and had been following a friend, who presumably had also been going the wrong way.
Sheriff Carole Cunningham imposed a £150 fine, banned Enright for a year and ordered him to re-sit his test.

A WHITHORN man who was caught hanging around outside the front door of a Wigtown house avoided jail this week.
Scott Carrick was found guilty at trial in March of loitering at the house at North Main Street with intent to steal after finding front door keys and hiding them when he was caught.
But following background reports, Sheriff Carole Cunningham said she had considered Carrick's current circumstances and was prepared to impose a community-based disposal.
She said: "You were an unimpressive witness and I am concerned you are falling back into your old ways.
"But by the absolute narrowest of margins, I am prepared to give you community service."
Carrick was sentenced to 180 hours.

A MAN who shot sheep in a field near Wigtown has been ordered to return from his home in Hong Kong to face sentencing at Stranraer.
Malcolm Elliot (77) whose address at the time of the incidents was Barsalloch Cottages, Moss of Cree plead guilty by letter to the offences, which happened on various occasions between December 30th 2007 and January 3rd 2008.
Elliot admitted maliciously shooting and killing the sheep, owned by Douglas Brown near Barsalloch Farm, with a shotgun.
Lawyer Tony McAndrew said that Elliot lives in Hong Kong most of the year but has a holiday home here in the area and added that he was hoping to have the incident dealt with in his absence.
But Sheriff Carole Cunningham said that she was considering calling for reports, in which case Elliot would be required in the country.
She went on: "Mr Elliot may be making a return trip sooner than anticipated."
The case was adjourned for a week to allow Mr McAndrew to take further instructions.

AN ex-soldier who assaulted a woman on a Stranraer street has been admonished after proving he could behave.
Luca Pantone (22) of St Ninian's Avenue, Stranraer had previously admitted pushing Jolene Steel on the throat to her injury in April 2006.
Sentence had been deferred for Pantone to show this was a one-off and in court on Tuesday, lawyer Michael Kilkerr said he had since been discharged from the army and was undergoing a joinery course.
Sheriff Carol Cunningham said that Pantone had satisfied the court that this was a drunken incident and admonished him.

A YOUNG man and woman were given a second chance to behave this week after they appeared in court charged with assault and breach of the peace.
Brian McGuinness (16) and Daniella Hughes (17), both of Fauld O' Wheat, Balmaclellan, New Galloway were placed on probation for a year and given 100 hours of unpaid work to do each after the incident in Newton Stewart last September.
McGuinness admitted assaulting Christopher Jewiss, whilst acting with another, at Victoria Street, Newton Stewart by repeatedly punching him on the head and body to his injury and knocking him unconscious.
Hughes was charged with conducting herself in a disorderly manner, shouting, swearing and committing a breach of the peace.
Michael Kilkerr, defending McGuinness, said he is due to be a father soon and had begun offending after becoming involved with a group of people older than him.
Sheriff Cunningham told the pair: "These are matters of serious concern and will not be tolerated.
"I will impose a community-based disposal but you must behave and conduct yourselves in an appropriate manner."

A MAN has been remanded in custody this week after pleading guilty to possessing a screwdriver on a Stranraer street and stealing alcohol.
Robert Campbell (20) who is currently in Dumfries Prison, admitted stealing the alcohol from a convenience store on Sun Street, Stranraer and also having the screwdriver at Backrampart, both on February 10th.
Sentence was deferred for reports until May 27th.

A DRUG user who was found in possession of heroin has been given a place on a drug rehabilitation scheme.
Gilliam McColm (35) of Ashwood Drive, Stranraer was found with the drug at Ashwood Drive on July 12th.
She had been assessed a ssuitable for the scheme and will now be placed on it for a period of 18 months.

FIGHTING in a Newton Stewart pub has landed a woman with a £175 fine.
Mary Hickey (32) who lives at Glencairn Hotel, Newton Stewart plead guilty to fighting with another woman at the Crown Hotel on January 14th and also committing a breach of the peace and shouting and swearing.
Lawyer Ian Milligan said there had been lots of drinking involved and that it appeared to have been a "general free-for-all".
Sheriff Carole Cunningham fined Hickey and told her she would have had a lesser sentence had she not had previous convictions.

A WHITHORN youth has been jailed for eight months after attacking a charity worker who was in fancy dress.
Simon Butterworth suffered facial injuries after James Jolly (19) punched, kicked and knocked him to the ground on George Street, Stranraer.
The court heard that at 5.10pm on April 7th, a drunk Jolly and pals began shouting things at 19-year old Mr Butterworth and his friend who were selling raffle tickets for charity around local shops.
Fiscal Kenny Grieve said that Mr Butterworth was dressed up for the occasion and was subjected to a "completely unprovoked attack."
He went on: "Mr Butterworth began to walk towards a shop to try and sell raffle tickets when Jolly approached from behind and assaulted him."
Police were called but Jolly ran away after CS spray was required to calm him down, which didn't have the desired effect.
He was traced to nearby Hanover Square car park where he was found having picked up metal fencing posts and was waving them at police officers.
He was also threatening them and the officers were forced to brandish their batons at him in a further bid to calm him down.
Murray Robertson, defending Jolly, said that his client had been drinking with friends in Stranraer and with one peer in particular who he described as being a bad infulence on Jolly.
He went on: "My client does have a dreadful record, there's no getting away from that, and I am struggling to find any reason not to send him to custody.
"He is supported here today by his long-suffering mother."
Mr Robertson went on to say that Jolly's offending is generally related to his alcohol misuse but that he has a job on a farm near his home which keeps him out of trouble.
He suggested a restriction of liberty order as an alternative to custody but Sheriff Carol Cunningham said: "These offences are serious and despicable and against a man out in the community doing work for charity."
She the sentenced Jolly to eight months in detention.