A woman who took people’s money in a room renting scam has been let off paying compensation to the victims.

Louise Ramsay, 35, of Kellock Avenue, Dunfermline, previously pleaded guilty to the con and also bombarding one of the victims with sex messages.

When she returned to Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Ramsay was pleading poverty, claiming she could not afford the compensation.

The case called as a review of her community payback order and her solicitor Aime Allan said: “She’s at risk of losing her home.”


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In March last year Ramsay was sentenced for a string of offences.

She had admitted that on December 1, 2020 she stole £340 in cash, that on February 12, 2021 she stole £525 and that on February 28, 2021 she stole £350.

She also admitted that on March 7, 2021 she sent a number of text messages to a man which were sexual in nature.

Dunfermline Press: The case called again at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.The case called again at Dunfermline Sheriff Court. (Image: Newsquest)

The court heard that Ramsay stole money from people after advertising her spare room as available to rent.

One of the victims was also bombarded with explicit sexual messages.

People would agree to stay there, pay money in advance but were then not allowed to move in, without being re-paid.

Ramsay had used the ‘Spare Room’ website and also ‘Facebook’ to advertise the accommodation.

In one case, a young man who had agreed to take the room began receiving sex messages from Ramsay after he had already paid money.

She then asked him for more money but he refused.

Her sex messages continued. “You’re grown-up for your age but I like that,” she wrote, adding his youth “turns me on”.

Ramsay made comments about his genitalia and said she could “teach him a thing or two” before going into graphic detail.

She continued in this vein and the man “felt this was extremely inappropriate” said the depute.

He asked for his money back but Ramsay made various excuses about why she could not do this over the following weeks.

Sheriff Charles Macnair put Ramsay on an eight-month restriction of liberty order. He also ordered her to pay a total of £900 compensation to the three people who lost money in the scam and put Ramsay on the sex offenders’ register.


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Now Sheriff Andrew Berry has agreed Ramsay does not have to pay back the compensation.

He said: “People have suffered financial losses and you’re not in a position to pay the compensation. I have to deal with the reality of the situation.”

He discharged the compensation payment and Ramsay was laughing as she left the courtroom.