Beloved lecturer involved in Scotland’s ‘crime of the century’

As if we needed another reason to admire him, Roy Allen has been unmasked as a criminal mastermind.

The recently deceased lecturer plotted to swindle an oil giant out of twenty-three million pounds before taking up his post at Aberdeen.

The former accountant served three out of five years of his sentence, but later made a new life for himself in 1992 when he became an undeniable asset to the uni.

The plot was to swindle Aberdeen based oil giant Britoil out of £23 million over a game of bridge in 1988.

Setting up a Swiss bank account, Allen and his girlfeind, Alison Anders, had planned to transfer the money and escape the country,

But bank staff in Rio de Janeiro noticed something fishy, the pair had to move to the Middle East.

Caught up in dirty dealings with the mafia and Arab partners the pair had to flee Abu Dhabi and return to Scotland where they were later arrested in 1989.

Had the couple’s attempt been successful the fraud would have been by far the largest ever crime committed in Scotland.

The whole saga was even later adapted for a TV drama.

Loved by many of his students Roy, tragically passed away on the 1st of October this year after a short illness, aged 62.

He was known for his quirky lectures starting off with a picture of his dog, and his sheer passion for his job.

But while Allen taught at the university, many of his students and colleagues were unaware of his eccentric past.

One of his pupils, Katie, said: ” He was my advisor in first year, and always seemed passionate about his job. I’m shocked about his past, but I didn’t know about his personal life at all.

“My condolences are with his family and friends at this time.”

Fourth-year Emma still said of Dr. Allen: “He always seemed like a considerable and conscientious member of the faculty.”

On Monday, a spokeswoman for Aberdeen University said: “The university community is very saddened to hear of the death of Dr Roy Allen of our psychology department.

“He will be greatly missed by his students and colleagues.”

Students were notified through email on the Thursday morning.

Regardless of his past this lecturer and local icon will be sorely missed by both staff and students.