The American multi-millionaire owner of a Scottish castle has saved the day for dozens of brides and grooms after a crooked employee stole £130,000 and fled by Eurostar to Paris.
Dan Pena refunded some couples who had been fleeced by compulsive gambler Craig Williamson and paid for others to ensure their big day went ahead at Guthrie Castle in Angus.
The businessman - whose firm faces bankruptcy as a result of his goodwill gestures - was shocked to discover Williamson had left a trail of unhappy couples after diverting their deposits into his own account to pay gambling bills of up to £5,000 a day.
Details of his generosity emerged as Williamson, the castle’s former estate manager, pled guilty on indictment to fraud between July 2015 and April this year at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday.
Some of the couples were left double booked, and in one case triple booked, after he failed to inform the hotel of the arrangements while others were left in limbo weeks until their big day.
The court heard that Williamson caught a Eurostar train to Paris, enroute to Ibiza after lying to colleagues that he was visiting his father in Glasgow.
Alice Cannon found her wedding £19,000 wedding that she had booked directly with Williamson was not on the castle’s books with one week to go.
Mr Pena ensured it went ahead after he met the cost from his own pocket.
Megan McNamee found her wedding was booked for the same date as two other couples in mid-July. She had to reschedule, at Mr Pena’s expense.
The mother of a third bride, Kayleigh Ferguson, handed over almost £19,000 to Williamson for a wedding scheduled for June this year and booked more than 18 months in advance.
But again there was no record with the castle and Williamson vanished with the money. Her wedding went ahead, again with the castle owner paying for it.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told the court brides were left “upset and stressed” with one telling police that she could not sleep for a week with worry.
Another woman told officers that the situation had ‘ put a strain on our relationship.’
Fiscal depute Elidh Robertson said Williamson, a prisoner at HMP Perth, was hired in November 2014.
After leaving in April, he did not answer colleagues’ calls before police were called on April 7,
A company director and Mr Pena’s wife remotely accessed Williamson’s email account and found Ms Cannon’s inquiries about her wedding less than a week later, on April 14-15.
Ms Robertson said: “They and other members of staff had no knowledge of any such wedding booking which was now just a week away.”
Williamson had withdrawn £6,000 cash on April 4, for his Ibiza trip. Ms Robertson added: “The accused had been taking bookings for weddings from various brides and grooms to be without informing anyone else at the venue ...or carrying out any preparations for the events, such as arranging staff, catering, etc.”
Almost 40 bridal parties had paid around £130,000 to Williamson. Although some had gone ahead, he kept the money. Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentence.
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