Derek McCafferty, who appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday, had previously admitted that on December 23 2016 and September 7 2017 at Cedar Grove, he uttered as genuine a building warrant and completion certificate for a building extension to Adam Thomson.

During his last appearance in the dock, the court heard that Mr McCafferty ran his own construction consultancy business, Draft 4 Design. They were also told of a previous conviction from 2015.

He was hired to do work for Mr Thomson who wanted to extend his house in Dunfermline.

Work was progressing as planned and the homeowner asked about the building warrant. Mr McCafferty supplied one but it turned out to be bogus.

The building standards department was later notified that the extension was completed and it was only then it emerged there was no building warrant for the project.

When checks were carried out on the warrant Mr McCafferty had supplied it was seen that the reference number matched with one previously given to him for a property in Newburgh.

The homeowner estimated it had cost him £4,500 to put matters right with the authorities.

Defence solicitor Russel McPhate said his client is a qualified architect but does not belong to any professional body.

Sheriff James Macdonald gave Mr McCafferty a six-month sentence.