A police officer from Fife has resigned with his career in ruins over a will fraud – and has been warned he could face jail.

Steven Muir, from Kirkcaldy, who was a solicitor before joining Police Scotland, was found guilty in August of helping a pal to create a forged will in a bid to get his friend an increased share of his late father's £355,000 estate.

A jury at Falkirk Sheriff Court found that Muir, 47, had formed a fraudulent scheme to confirm his friend as sole executor for his father.

The conviction was on an “art and part” basis – acting in concert with alleged actions of his friend to commit the crime. Muir had denied the charge.

Steven Muir, from Kirkcaldy, who was a solicitor before joining Police Scotland appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court | Pic Michael Gillen

Jurors heard a folder of documents was removed from the dead man's home in Cluny, Fife on the night he died in October 2021, and the dead man's signature was forged on a document purporting to be his will. This was then presented at the sheriff clerk's office at Kirkcaldy for confirmation.

The trial heard, however, that a document was found in the dead man's own handwriting expressing wishes similar to those in the “forged” will, and differing from a previous will he had made.

When first offender Muir appeared for sentence, Sheriff Christopher Shead said there was evidence led at the trial that the deceased had intended a reorganisation of his affairs.

He said: “Is the court supposed to proceed on the basis that that reorganisation was embodied in the handwritten document that was produced at the trial?

“And that the document that was forged was not significantly removed from that expression of wishes?”

The court heard that Muir, a father-of-two had been on restricted duties until this week, and had now resigned from Police Scotland.

Advocate Nicola Ross, defending, said Muir “accepts now that it was unwise to have become involved in this family situation, but he did so, he thought, to help his friend”.

She presented character references from two of his former colleagues.

She said: “Mr Muir has worked in the past for the fire service and a solicitor. He has now resigned from the Police Service of Scotland and his resignation was accepted with immediate effect – he having recognised that a conviction for fraud is incompatible with the office.

“He is most distressed that he has brought the police service into disrepute and that his career has been cut short as a result of his involvement in this matter.”

The court heard that some members of the dead man's family were launching a civil action in the Court of Session to cancel the purported will.

Further deferring sentence until Friday (October 9) to consider a possible compensation order, Sheriff Shead said he wanted to be clear where the offence fell “on the spectrum.”

He said: “On any view this is a serious matter, particularly when it involves the presentation to a court of a document as important as a will. What really happened here? Was this a very serious distortion of the deceased's wishes or was this something rather less serious, or relatively serious?

“Of course it may be that the court has to reach the conclusion that custody is the only appropriate disposal.

Muir's 46-year-old friend and co-accused is due to face trial over the same matter at Perth Sheriff Court later this month, although Miss Ross said he was “unwell” and there could yet be a further delay.