A BOGUS workman defrauded a Gourock woman out of £710 — so he could pay off a drug debt.

Robert Vize — who committed an identical offence previously — pretended that he'd carry out electrical work at his victim's home.

Vize, 34, is now behind bars after failing to stump up the money to repay the woman.

Sheriff Thomas Ward told the fraudster that there was 'no other appropriate method' of dealing with him.

Vize, of Berwick Road in Port Glasgow, told the woman he'd do work for her as long as she paid for electrical parts.

He then told her she needed 'further extensive' works, when he had no intention of doing anything for her.

His lawyer, Gerry Keenan, told Greenock Sheriff Court: "I have to acknowledge from the outset that with what he pled guilty to, and his record, there is no alternative to a custodial sentence in this case."

Vize had brought £710 with him to court in April, but then spent it after the case was adjourned for Sheriff Ward to deal with.

Solicitor Mr Keenan said: "When all of this [the offence] was happening he had significant debt as a result of the abuse of controlled drugs.

"The court will be aware of the type of pressure that can be applied for debts of that nature.

"It does not excuse the fraud perpetrated here, but it does explain it."

Mr Keenan added: "He no longer has the money and used it to settle other debts."

Vize committed the offence between February 15 and 27 last year.

He had also been charged obtaining £562 worth of fuel from the Morrisons filling station in Greenock by allegedly pretending to be the lawful holder of a fuel payment card, however his not guilty plea to this was accepted.

Sheriff Ward told him: "I told you when you appeared and pleaded guilty that if you paid the money you would not necessarily avoid a custodial sentence.

"There is no reason why you could not have sent the money on, you had the opportunity to pay.

"You have a background of the same type of offending where you promise to do work and you don't do the work.

"In the circumstances I consider there is no other appropriate method of dealing with you other than a sentence of imprisonment."

Vize was returned to prison for a 107-day unexpired portion of a previous sentence and given a further 245 days for his latest offence — a total of 352 days.