Granny embezzler escapes time in jail

MacKenzie stole £49,000 as old lady was admitted into hospital

- TIM BUGLER

A woman who stole £49,000 from her granny within weeks of the old lady being admitted to hospital was spared jail on Wednesday.

Nicola MacKenzie was told by a sheriff before whom she appeared for sentence that his priority was to ensure that her grandmother got her money back.

MacKenzie, a 40-year-old first offender, was given nine months to repay her "in full".

Stirling Sheriff Court heard she already had £20,000 available to pay at once, and at least a further £25,000 would be available as soon as she and her husband sold a tenanted flat they had.

Sheriff William Gilchrist sentenced MacKenzie to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and placed her under social work supervision in addition to a £49,000 compensation order.