A former nurse who faced flogging over the murder of a colleague in Saudi Arabia has appeared in court in Scotland for shoplifting.

Lucille McLauchlan, formerly known as Lucille Ferrie, was sentenced to eight years and 500 lashes by a Saudi court for her part in the murder of Australian nurse Yvonne Gilford and the theft of her credit cards in 1996.

McLauchlan returned to the UK in 1998 after being granted a pardon along with co-accused Deborah Parry, who had been sentenced to beheading after being found to being the main player in the killing.

The pardons for the pair were granted after "blood money" was paid to the family of Ms Gilford.

Parry last month called for Yvonne Gilford's body to be exhumed in a bid to clear her name but McLauchlan has refused to help.

Parry has suggested McLauchlan is rebuffing her approaches because she has something to hide.

McLauchlan has faced a string of criminal charges since she returned to Scotland, including last year being placed on probation over a credit card fraud.

She has been banned from working as a nurse.

On Tuesday she appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on a shoplifting charge.

McLauchlan, 46, of Brook Street, Broughty Ferry, admitted stealing a tub of face cream from a Boots store in Brook Street, Broughty Ferry on November 24 last year.

The court was told that the cream was on sale for £13.99 and was recovered after she was stopped.

The offence is the third she has admitted since last February.

Then she admitting a string of credit card frauds and just two weeks ago she was fined £65 at Dundee's Justice of the Peace Court after stealing a digital radio from an Asda store in Dundee.

John Boyle, defending, said: "She is really not in a position to provide an explanation for this. I think deep down it seems to be some compulsion to steal."

"You may be aware of her case in Saudi Arabia and that has obviously had a significant psychological effect."

“She has made great progress on probation and I'd ask for a non custodial disposal."

Sheriff Derek Pyle said: "I have concerns that in 2011 she has admitted three charges and she has three other offences from 1998. She is no stranger to the courts. I will defer sentence for six months for you to be of good behaviour.”

Both McLauchlan and Parry have protested their innocence in the killing of Yvonne Gilford, claiming they confessed to the crimes because they had been threatened with sexual abuse.