Treasurer accused of stealing more than £24,000 from after school club

Embezzlement: A woman will stand trial accused of stealing £24,000.© STV

A treasurer who was trusted with the finances of an after school club will stand trial accused of embezzling more than £24,000.

Margaret Harms, 48, is accused of taking cash while working as treasurer for East Neuk Kids After School Club in Anstruther, Fife.

It is alleged she stole £24,168 over a period of 15 months between October 2008 and January 2010.

At Cupar Sheriff Court on Thursday Catriona Clark, defending, said it was a "complex" case.

She said: "We do not yet have legal aid in place as her financial situation is quite complicated and we do not expect that to resolve in the next week or two.

"We may need to instruct an expert to look at the documents when they are disclosed to us. It is anticipated that this trial may take more than one day."

Fiscal depute Susannah Hutchison said: "There's quite a considerable amount of documents to sort through at the moment.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair QC continued the case to a three-day trial starting on September 26. He ordered Harms to appear at a pre-trial hearing in August.

Harms, of Station Road, Keadby, near Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire denies a charge of embezzlement.

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