Wick Sheriff Court: Plea deal could be struck in £40k fraud case
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The protracted case of a Wick woman, who is originally from Orkney, accused of a £40,000 fraud is unlikely to go to trial.
Wick Sheriff Court was told on Wednesday that the prosecution and defence are close to brokering a plea of guilty.
Solicitor Sylvia Maclennan, representing Fiona Taylor, reported that there had been "significant" investigations into the accused's fitness to plead and extensive negotiations which would hopefully allow the matter to resolve before the trial date of May 31.
Fiscal David Barclay referred to discussions he had had with Miss Maclennan and added: "There has been a potential meeting of minds."
Taylor (63) previously pleaded not guilty on indictment to defrauding a pensioner of £40,000 by inducing him to invest £33,000 in the purchase a café business at Wick airport and persuading him to buy a car for £7000 which she would use to run him about in.
It is probable that the terms of the indictment will change in the current plea-bargaining between the prosecution and defence.
Taylor, of Glamis Road, Wick, was the subject of various medical assessments and it was only late last year that she was declared fit to stand trial and instruct Miss Maclennan.
The case will call again on May 17 when the court will hear the outcome of the current negotiations.
