A fantasist who impersonated a Celtic scout and made creepy approaches to an under-10 team has gone unpunished over the offence. Anthony Adams forged an ID and used the fake badge to make him look like he actually had a role with the Premiership champions.
The 27-year-old previously admitted his guilt over the botched ruse and returned to the dock at Ayr Sheriff Court yesterday to learn his fate. The case had been adjourned on a number of previous occasions due to Adams' health conditions, which include him having to wear a catheter.
On one occasion, his lawyer said he had been at the court building to be sentenced but had been forced to leave early as the bag had burst. Yesterday, Sheriff Mhairi Mactaggart placed him on a Community Payback Order, which will see him supervised by social workers for 18 months.
No unpaid work was imposed as part of the order, after the court heard he was not fit to carry out unpaid work, meaning there is no punishment element to the sentence. Adams, of Ardrossan, Ayrshire, made approaches to the coach of the long running Ayrshire team Largs Colts while they played in a competition in Cumnock in June 2019.
He talked up the chances of Largs youngsters signing for Celtic, telling Largs Under 10s coach James Craddock that he was interested in four players. He asked where and when the team trained, then turned up at the club's Bowencraig Recreation Ground base.
The youngsters were filled with false hope of playing for a top club and he flashed his fake Celtic ID. But Craddock and other coaches became suspicious about his behaviour and Celtic confirmed there were no scouts watching Largs Colts when club officials contacted the Parkhead giants.
Police were called in and Adams was arrested and charged, later pleading guilty to a breach of the peace charge at Ayr Sheriff Court. In 2018, the Record told how Adams ran a private paramedic service that chased ambulances around but failed to pay its young staff.
He appointed staff to work as first aiders at sports events for his National Event Medical Services then refused to pay any wages. Adams set up one firm as North Ayrshire Community Youth Work, which led to accusations of him passing it off as part of North Ayrshire Council.
Adams had earlier been accused of stealing North Ayrshire Council ID badges and clothing and impersonating a council employee. A not guilty plea to this charge was accepted.
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