Wick woman accused of £40k fraud set for medical assessment
A Wick woman has said she has no memory of a £40,000 fraud she is alleged to have committed.
Fiona Taylor is to receive medical assistance to determine if she is fit to tender a plea, Wick Sheriff Court was told on Thursday.
The 63-year-old had previously given the impression that she was reluctant to come to court to face up to the allegations. These accuse Taylor, of Glamis Road, Wick, of pretending to an 88-year-old pensioner that she needed money to help her granddaughter with her rent arrears and for the purchase and running of the Wick Airport Café. The person was to be given ownership of the business for his investment of £33,000.
Taylor is further accused of inducing that person to pay her £7000 to buy a car on the basis she would drive them about. The offences are said to have taken place between December 10, 2015, and July 1, 2016.
On Thursday, Sheriff Andrew Berry received a report from a social worker who interviewed Taylor prior to the court starting.
She stated that the accused had no recollection of the alleged offences, or working in a café or her earlier life in Dundee.
However, Taylor was prepared to meet a psychologist or a psychiatrist who will endeavour to ascertain whether she is fit to plead or is suffering from dementia.
The outcome will be reported to the sheriff on August 25.
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