Court / Fine for man who embezzled money from Walls swimming pool committee

A MAN who embezzled almost £2,000 from the Walls swimming pool association has been fined – despite paying the full sum, and more, back.

Regan Peggs, of Walls, admitted taking £1,996.01 from the pool committee while acting as treasurer between 1 December 2022 and 28 March 2024 at Lerwick Sheriff Court earlier this year.

He was given more than four months to pay the money back.

And court heard on Wednesday that 45-year-old Peggs had actually paid them £2,950, with £1,000 as a goodwill gesture.

The court also heard for the first time how Peggs’ offending had come about.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Peggs had been the committee’s sole signatory while working as treasurer.

However they grew concerned about his “reluctance to attend meetings and to produce accounts”.

The committee grew suspicious and “effectively gave him an ultimatum” that if he did not co-operate they would contact the police.

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Mackenzie said that when he was challenged by the committee he came up with a “fairly fantastical story” about it being a “terrible mistake”, which he blamed on technology he owned.

Six separate transactions had been made by Peggs, the court heard, three of which were for £500.

He told the committee the money would be paid back “without delay”.

“Clearly it’s taken some quite considerable time,” the fiscal added.

Solicitor Tommy Allan said things had “got out of control” for Peggs at the time of the offending.

He added that he had “done what he can to pay the money back”, and had actually paid back more than he was due to.

Allan asked for an absolute discharge for Peggs.

But Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said he did not consider it appropriate to discharge the case.

Instead he ordered Peggs to pay a fine of £450.