Wick woman facing £40k fraud charges may not be fit to plead

A Wick woman who appeared reluctant to come to court to face £40,000 fraud charges has health problems, Wick Sheriff Court was told last week.

Now Sheriff Andrew Berry will await a letter from Fiona Taylor's GP as to whether she is fit to plead to the indictment.

The charges accuse Taylor of defrauding a pensioner. Taylor (63) is alleged to have pretended to the 88-year-old that she needed money to help her granddaughter with her rent arrears and for the purchase and running of the Wick Airport Cafe.

The man was to be given ownership of the business for his investment of £33,000.

Taylor, of Glamis Road, Wick, is further accused of inducing the pensioner to pay her £7000 to buy a car on the basis she would drive him about. The offences are said to have occurred between December 10, 2015, and July 1, 2016.

There have been delays in progressing Taylor's case due to her absence from the court, it heard on Wednesday.

She told the sheriff last week that she had not taken legal advice because she didn't know how to obtain it. Taylor also said she didn't understand the charges, which were summarised by Sheriff Berry, but she was prepared to seek advice from a social worker.

The accused agreed with a suggestion by the sheriff that she would get a letter from her GP regarding her fitness to plead. The case was continued until July 14.