Woman to face trial at Wick over £40k fraud despite attempts to reach plea deal
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A bid to avoid a vulnerable Wick woman at the centre of an alleged £40,000 fraud having to endure a trial has failed.
Talks between the prosecution and defence aimed at producing a guilty plea to a possible amended or reduced charges have failed. That means that Fiona Taylor will stand trial after all, at Wick Sheriff Court later this year.
The protracted case, which began at Wick more than two years ago, alleges that she pretended to pensioner Albert Millington that she needed money to help her granddaughter with her rent arrears and for the purchase and running of the Wick Airport Cafe. Mr Millington was to be given ownership of the business for his £33,000 investment.
Taylor, an Orcadian, but now of Glamis Road, Wick is further accused of inducing the 88-year-old to pay her a further £7000 for the purchase of a car she would use to drive him about.
Taylor, who is 63, adheres to her original plea of not guilty and will stand trial on October 5.
Her solicitor, Sylvia Maclennan, confirmed to Sheriff Mark Lindsay QC on Wednesday that it had not been able to complete the talks aimed at "progressing matters" and that a new date for Taylor's trial required to be fixed.
The case has been fraught with delays with Taylor being subject to various medical assessments and it was only late last year that she was declared fit to give her solicitor instructions and stand trial.
