£40k fraud accused is fit to stand trial, court told

A woman accused of defrauding a pensioner of £40,000 has been declared fit to stand trial.

Fiona Taylor (63) will now be able to give instructions to her solicitor, Sylvia Maclennan, in advance of the trial on January 24.

The case had been delayed in order that Taylor’s fitness was assessed medically.

Miss Maclennan told Wick Sheriff Court that Taylor’s fitness had been a major concern but an application for special measures would be submitted to assist the accused in the conduct of her trial as she had been deemed to be a vulnerable person.

The case has been subject to repeated delays since last year when Taylor, of Glamis Road, Wick, appeared to be reluctant to appear in the dock to answer the indictment, as well as difficulties over her legal representation.

Taylor subsequently did appear in the court and was represented by Miss Maclennan who was ‘parachuted’ in to represent her, and submitted a plea of not guilty to the indictment.

It alleges that the accused pretended to Albert Millington that she needed money to help her granddaughter with her rent arrears and for the purchase and running of the Wick Airport Café.

Mr Millington (88) was to be given ownership of the business for his £33,000 investment.

Taylor was further accused of inducing him to pay her a further £7000 for a car that she would use to drive him about. The frauds are alleged to have occurred between December 10, 2015 and July 1, 2016.

A further hearing will take place on January 11 when the special measures for Taylor’s trial are expected to be approved.