A neighbourhood officer employed by Walsall Council to offer support to elderly people has been accused of banking cheques she collected for a charity into her own account.
Linda Gillian Taylor, who has been suspended from her job, faces two charges of fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006. The 49-year-old yesterday appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court where Miss Siobhan Wilkins, prosecuting, said that the charges brought against Taylor related to two cheques made out to Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Miss Wilkins said two men, John Haynes and John Ball, had written out cheques for £100 and £50, both believing they would go towards the cause.
Taylor, of Victoria Street, Cannock, has denied all the charges, which relate to incidents alleged to have taken place on November 28.
She has also pleaded not guilty to forging a bus pass application under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, and denied using a bus pass she wasn’t entitled to use between December 10 last year and January 29 this year.
Miss Wilkins said: “The prosecution say Miss Taylor committed the offences whilst she was in a position of trust while working with vulnerable elderly people in her role as a neighbourhood community officer.”
She said Taylor has been suspended in her role as neighbourhood community officer at Walsall Council until the conclusion of the case.
Her role as neighbourhood community office is to engage with vulnerable members of the community.
Mrs Leila Groves, chairman of the magistrates, said the case was suitable for a magistrates court trial.
Taylor was given unconditional bail to appear back at Walsall Magistrates Court for a trial at 10am on July 2.
She is accused of paying a cheque into her own bank account which was made out by John Haynes for £100.
The prosecution say Mr Haynes believed the money was going to the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity.
She is also accused of banking a cheque for £50 which John Ball had made out, also believing it was going to the charity.
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