Latvian mortgage fraudster charged £35k

Trifonova, thought to be 31 or 32, had previously pleaded guilty to a common law mortgage fraud at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on 1 February.

She was sentenced at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Wednesday to 250 hours community service.

Lindsey Miller, head of the Serious and Organised Crime Division, said: “Anzelika Trifonova lied about having a job in order to gain a mortgage worth £85,500 and, in doing so, made a significant amount of money from crime.

"The Crown takes mortgage fraud extremely seriously and will seek to recover any money made in this way using its powers under Proceeds of Crime legislation.”

Miller added that Trifonova was the latest in a long line of criminals who had discovered that they would be forced to pay back the money they made through crime.

She said: “This should act as a warning to others considering committing crime.

“The money recovered from Ms Trifonova will now be added to the millions of pounds taken from criminals via the Proceeds of Crime Act and will be reinvested in activities for young people through the CashBack for Communities programme.”

An investigation revealed that Trifonova obtained the mortgage funds from Halifax Bank of Scotland fraudulently.

She was detained by police officers at which point she made a full confession and was subsequently cautioned and charged.