Last updated at 16:38, Wednesday, 20 February 2013

A FORMER charity fundraiser has admitted stealing £22,000 from her severely disabled brother.

GUILTY PLEA Christine Davies

Christine Davies, a Dalton mum-of-two, has been warned by a judge that she may face jail when she returns to court for sentencing next month.

Davies, 57, a one-time chair of Dalton Old People’s Welfare Centre who has previously raised money for St Mary’s Hospice, had been due to stand trial but admitted a theft charge when she appeared in court yesterday.

Davies, of Queen Street, was accused of stealing £37,574.08 belonging to her brother Keith Hardman, between March 1, 2007 and March 1, 2011.

When asked for her plea, she replied: “I plead guilty to the theft of £22,000”.

Mr Lee Bonner, prosecuting, said the crown accepted her plea and would not seek a trial of issue on the difference between the two figures.

Defence barrister Mr Roger Baldwin asked for the case to be adjourned to allow a pre-sentence report to be compiled.

Davies was granted unconditional bail for sentencing to take place on March 18.

Judge Heather Lloyd told her: “I am adjourning so that the judge knows a great deal more about you and your background.

“It seems to me that a custodial sentence is a highly likely sentencing option on March 18. All sentencing options will be open to the sentencing judge.”

First published at 16:09, Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk