Aberdeen councillor Scott Cassie jailed for cash scam

Scott Cassie was jailed for a year at Aberdeen Sheriff Court

A former Aberdeen councillor who admitted charges relating to the embezzlement of thousands of pounds from a sports society has been jailed.

Scott Cassie, 60, who resigned as a councillor last month, admitted taking £13,500 from Kaimhill Outdoor Sports Society.

He admitted the offences which took place while he was working as a city councillor.

Cassie was jailed for a year at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Edward Savage said the public expected the highest degree of honesty and probity in elected representatives.

He said: "You betrayed that trust. It was a serious breach of trust, and the public interest must be protected."

Defence lawyer Gregor Kelly said his client would be "haunted" by what he had done.

Cassie, who had a street named after him near his Garthdee home, stepped down from his role as the Liberal Democrat group's deputy leader after allegations about the financial irregularities were made public last year.

However, he continued to carry out his work as a councillor in the city representing the Garthdee, Airyhall and Broomhill areas.

He committed the offences between August 1998 and May 2009.

He quit his post in April before appearing in court, citing "personal reasons".

The Crown Office dropped embezzlement charges against Cassie's wife, Moira.