A tax-dodging tycoon launched a legal action against a church in a bid to get his hands on the organ he used to play – and then fled when told to try and settle his case out of court.
Crooked Perthshire businessman Stewart Newing-Davis (48) demanded the return of the instrument which he claimed belonged to him.
Newing-Davis – previously jailed for defrauding the taxman – also demanded the church hand over two nativity figures and a hook-a-duck set.
He told Perth Sheriff Court thatSt Columba’s Church in Stanley had retained his belongings – including a Dyson vacuum cleaner, 22 tables and a cinema-style organ – after he quit in 2014.
He said he had been the church’s organist for a decade, while his wife Sarah was the treasurer, and had donated items worth over £3000.
However, solicitor Ruth Thomson said the church disputed that the items had ever belonged to Newing-Davis and pointed out that he had run out of time to pursue a claim.
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown halted the hearing to allow the parties to discuss the issue in a bid to reach an out-of-court agreement.
However, after a brief discussion, Newing-Davis left the court and failed to return as Miss Thomson confirmed they had failed to reach any agreement.
The sheriff formally ruled against Newing-Davis and ordered him to pay expenses for the case.
Earlier this year, Newing-Davis was ordered to pay back just £7000 under Proceeds of Crime legislation, despite making nearly £200,000 from his criminal activity.
The one-time transport tycoon managed to buy a £400,000 villa in France after systematically evading paying tax. He was jailed for 32 months and the Crown eventually agreed with Newing-Davis that he should hand over just £7042.16 from the sale of the home.
He was released on a home detention curfew after serving just a quarter of his sentence.
The Crown Office initially wanted to claw back the holiday home, in the south of France, believing it was paid for by money gained through criminal activity.
Newing-Davis was jailed after he admitted conning the taxman. He was released on a home detention curfew after serving just a quarter of his sentence.
He formerly ran Bankfoot Buses, which was ordered off the road by regulators for trying to imitate Stagecoach services by using similar livery and running free routes just ahead of their rival.
Among publicity stunts staged by the company were free wine and mince pies for Christmas shoppers and drivers wearing fancy dress.
Newing-Davis has run several other companies, including a fire engine limousine hire firm called Red Hot Knights.
