Funeral director admits fraud in court following Police Scotland investigation

A 39-year-old funeral director from Fife has admitted fraud after a police investigation following a complaint made in September 2019.

Barry Stevenson pled guilty at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 26 July, 2022.

In October, 2019, as part of the investigation, officers acting under warrant, searched premises in Rosyth, Cowdenbeath, Cardenden and Kirkcaldy.

Officers seized a significant amount of documentation, dating back to 2015, which showed that paperwork had not been processed correctly.

More than 60 people had paid in advance for funeral plans, however, due to the fraud, the majority of them have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket with no active policy in place.

In November 2019, officers arrested Barry Stevenson and following enquiries he was charged.

Detective Constable Gillian McEwan said: “What Stevenson did is a complete betrayal of trust. It has been an incredibly stressful time for the people involved.

“Despite believing they had paid for their funeral arrangements, thereby relieving the financial burden from their families, they have been left in the lurch, with no policy, no money and no funds to buy a new policy.

“I hope that seeing Stevenson being held to account for his crimes can offer them some sort of solace.”