A SERIAL charlatan who pretended to be a doctor at Crosshouse Hospital and a 'Celtic scout' at boys' football games has avoided further jail time for handling dodgy criminal cash.

Anthony Adams returned to court for sentencing after the 'Walter Mitty' con man admitted breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act - prior to later pretending to be a surgeon at Ayrshire's busiest hospital.

The 30-year-old was spared another custodial sentenced earlier this month - having previously been jailed for scamming a grieving family using cruel lies, as well as walking around Crosshouse Hospital in stolen scrubs.

Adams, who previously also used the surname 'Brennan', pleaded guilty to converting criminal property on February 2 back in 2020, withdrawing £1,900 from the Bank of Scotland branch in King Street, Kilmarnock.

He also admitted a similar offence relating to the purchase of £2,939.79 worth of US dollars at Ramsdens, on the same street and on the same date.

When he returned to Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, defence solicitor Brian Holliman said: “There is a significant procedural history, he last appeared on October 23 to confirm good behaviour.

"The previous order that had been imposed had been interrupted by a sentence imposed on Mr Adams.

"As far as I’m aware there has been no further offending and there are no other matters outstanding. 

"There are no issues taken with the circumstances set out in the [social work] report. The question over disposal is his health issues prevent him doing unpaid work."

Sheriff Laura Mundell said: "If Mr Adams puts in the work supervision could benefit him.

"I'm going to make you subject to a community payback order with one requirement for supervision for 12 months.  

"The purpose of that is to get you support in the community, I don't want to see you in court again particularly for the sort of offences you pleaded to in the past.

"I'm not going to fix a review as I'm confident if you breach the order you will be reported back."

We previously reported that the repeat offender befriended the family of a man who died in a motorcycle accident - and concocted a series of heart-breaking stories which led to him being asked to help carry the man's coffin.

A court heard the ‘Walter Mitty’ figure was unable to offer any explanation for the “unimaginable distress” he caused as a result of his fantasies.

He also managed to get hold of a staff pass, giving him access to restricted areas at Crosshouse Hospital, over a fortnight in 2021.

Additionally, Adams admitted falsely telling a woman that her late son had become a dad before her death, gaining access to her home, family and friends, and got her to give him a role at her son’s funeral.

That offence was committed between July 3 and October 14 the same year.

Adams, who was listed in court papers as living in Ardrossan, also previously pleaded guilty at Ayr Sheriff Court to falsely stating that he represented Celtic Football Club by using fake ID at an event at Cumnock Juniors’ ground on June 8, 2019.

He struck again 11 days later at the Bowencraig Recreation Ground in Largs, where he approached players and told them he wanted to attend further sessions, causing fear and alarm among those present and thereby committing a breach of the peace.

Not guilty pleas to charges of stealing North Ayrshire Council ID badges and clothing – after fraudulently pretending to be a regular NAC employee and claiming he had lost his badge at Cunninghame House, Irvine – were accepted by prosecutors.