Offshore worker threatened to slash man behind doomed £200,000 investment venture

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An offshore worker threatened to slash a man behind a doomed £200,000 investment venture unless he stumped up cash.Gary Greig extorted £8,000 from the individual said to have headed up the Ponzi-scheme.During a phone call, the first offender stated: "It's going to all kick off if you do not have it next week."It is going up to 10, them f***ing boys are up and whatever happens, happens."I just want to get this money back."The 45 year-old's fellow rig worker Brian Welsh, 47, also later warned the man to pay up.It emerged neither had actually invested in the failed scheme.It was another offshore colleague of Greig's who had instead lost money.Both Greig and Welsh ended up arrested and led to them appearing in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court.Greig, of Kilwinning pled guilty to a single charge of extortion while Welsh, of Milton, Glasgow, admitted to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.The court heard the man heading the scheme had sought investors in 2016 for a "short term, high return" business opportunity.The promise was people could double their money after six months.Those who ploughed in cash included Kevin Nichol, who handed over £40,000.He knew Greig from working offshore.But, prosecutor Nick Konopate said "no return" was made on the scheme leaving investors "out of pocket".In October 2018, the man behind the failed venture got a call from a private number - later identified as Greig.Greig said Mr Nichol had originally borrowed money from him and could not longer re-pay having lost his £40,000.Greig stated the man was now responsible for the debt.Mr Konopate said: "Greig told the man that he was going to get slashed if he did not pay the money owed."The sum demanded was later raised to £8,000.The man