A FRAUDSTER ran up a four-figure bill during a stay at one of Ayrshire’s top hotels – then left without stumping up the cash.

Calum McLean left the owners of the award-winning Glenapp Castle nearly £1,900 out of pocket after his brief stay at the luxurious hotel near Ballantrae.

The 27-year-old, from Ayr, had also been charged with defrauding Trump Turnberry out of more than £1,614 by committing a similar offence there.

But prosecutors dropped the Turnberry allegation when they accepted McLean’s plea of guilty to the Glenapp charge.

McLean, of Carcluie Crescent, admitted inducing staff at Glenapp Castle to believe he would settle his account on February 3 this year.

When McLean appeared for sentencing at Ayr Sheriff Court, procurator fiscal depute Alasdair Millar said the accused had obtained goods and services at Glenapp to the value of £1,886.65 without paying for them.

McLean had initially denied both the Turnberry and Glenapp charges when he appeared at the same court in March.

But he later changed his tune over the Glenapp allegation.

He had been accused of inducing Trump Turnberry to provide him with a hotel suite, a round of golf, £100 in cash and a bottle of alcohol by fraudulent use of a credit card on November 17 last year.

And prosecutors agreed to drop the charge relating to his alleged behaviour at Donald Trump's resort.

After reading background social work reports, Sheriff Desmond Leslie asked defence solicitor John Gallagher: “Did he have a good time?”

Mr Gallagher replied: “It sounds like it.”

Mr Gallagher said a deposit of £800 had been put down for the Glenapp stay, and that an invoice had been provided confirming that this was paid – but the balance was not.

The solicitor added: “This came during a background of him experiencing personal difficulties in his life.

“Reading between the lines, I think this was one ‘final hurrah’ before some drastic action.

“Obviously he came to his senses. He was later reported as a missing person and, on being traced, an assessment took place due to his erratic behaviour.

“He is now employed elsewhere in a sales role. He is clearly in a position to, and is keen to, compensate.”

Sheriff Leslie put McLean on a community payback order which will see him supervised by social workers for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay back the remaining balance still due to Glenapp in instalments of £100 a month.