A squatter who tried to sell the cottage he was living in has avoided a jail sentence.
Ewan Turner attempted to claim £70,000 from selling the property in Walkerburn in the Scottish Borders.
The 36-year-old even spent thousands of pounds doing up the property, but was caught when the owner discovered it was for sale. Police have described his crimes as very 'rare'.
You can watch the full report from our Borders reporter Jenny Longden below.
A squatter who tried to sell a cottage that did not belong to him has been sentenced to 120 hours of community service.
Ewan Turner was described in a report read out at Selkirk Sheriff court today as having "an anti-social and narcissistic personality, he is deceitful and likes conning people for pleasure" through "grandiose schemes".
Between March and May 2011, Turner put Kirnie Cottage in Walkerburn on the market.
It had lain empty for some time, and the owner of the property had recently passed away.
Mr Turner's scheme to sell the cottage was revealed when a woman who was bequeathed it found a For Sale sign at the cottage.
A single mum continued to claim benefits, despite inheriting over £28,000 from her grandfather's will.
Natasha Yorke from Walkerburn in Peeblesshire, was left the money in February 2010.
– Tessa Bradley, Depute Fiscal"Miss Yorke had an ongoing Income Support claim. She inherited this share of the sale of a house but failed to declare it.”
The 21-year-old shop assistant failed to informe the Benfeits Agency and continued to colect nearly £3000 worth of income support she wasn't entitled to.
– Ed Hulme, Defence lawyer"The money was spent paying back loans to family members and other payments she was due.
"She also furnished her house for her and her child and she had nothing left by the August of 2010.
“She was depressed after the death of her grandfather, as he had virtually brought her up, and she knew the money would be going out as quickly as it came in."
She has now been banned from claiming any benefits until 2014, after spending all of the money.
Sheriff Mark Thurley deferred sentencing until January 23rd for the preparation of background reports.
Crime writer Ian Rankin has donated an undisclosed sum to help save the 17th Century Crook Inn pub in Tweedsmuir.
The Scottish author of the Inspector Rebus books has put his hands in his pocket to help the campaign to raise £160,000 by the end of the year.
The local community decided to try and save the pub, after it was bought over in 2006.
If they fail in their bid, the 400-year-old pub could be turned into housing.
The pub was a watering hole for other literary figures, including Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott.
The group has raised over £110,000 so far. Campaign brochures appealing for help to raise the last £50,000 will go out to 30,000 homes next week.
All donations are being welcomed.
Referring to Mr Turner's plan to sell the house, his lawyer told Selkirk Sheriff Court that it was "always doomed for failure".
– Greg McDonnel, Mr Turner's lawyer""The moment he contacted any solicitor in respect of an offer, it would be discovered the property would not be in his name.
"When an offer was made he took the property off the market and tried to let it out instead."
A squatter tried to sell the cottage he living in for £70,000, despite not owning the property.
Ewan Turner moved into Kirnie Cottage, Walkerburn, Peebleshire, after noticing it was empty.
Mr Turner, 36, tried to market the two bedroomed property after the owner's death in 2011.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told the court that Mr Turner had been squatting in the property for nine months when he decided to try and sell it.
Mr Turner, from Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, claimed he had spent £8,000 on making the property 'liveable' after he found it lying derelict.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of pretending to be the owner of the cottage between March and May in 2011 and attempting to induce someone to sell it on his behalf and get the proceeds by fraud.
Sentence has been deferred until 17th December for background reports.
Video Credit: Robert Balfour
Around 120 people have celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at a party in Stobo, Peebleshire.
A bonfire was lit which had flames leaping 40ft into the air.