Caithness solicitor accused of £100k embezzlement will not face trial over charges

A Caithness solicitor accused of embezzling over £100,000 from his firm over a four-year period between July 2008 and January 2012 will no longer face trial this week.

Patrick Copinger was alleged to have embezzled £105,129.48 from his Highland Law Practice firm in Lybster and was due to face a jury this week – more than five years after he was initially indicted.

The case against his former business partner, Sylvia MacLennan, who was accused of embezzling £7,297.39 was thrown out in March last year by Sheriff Sara Matheson.

The sheriff ruled MacLennan's right to a fair trial within a reasonable time had been breached by it taking so long to come to court.

It is understood the Crown Office appealed against that ruling but lost, and her name was removed from Mr Copinger's indictment.

The case was on the court roll at Inverness for Monday, May 20, but Sheriff Ian Cruickshank was told by fiscal depute Emily Hood: “I have been instructed that the case should not be called.”

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) explained later: “It is the duty of the Crown to keep cases under review, and following full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, including the available admissible evidence, the Procurator Fiscal decided that there should be no further criminal proceedings at this time.

“The Crown reserves the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available.”

The Law Society began an investigation into the Caithness legal practice around 12 years ago after alleged financial irregularities.

The police became involved and in 2019 both partners were indicted on embezzlement charges.