A partner at the Aberdeen law firm where a solicitor allegedly swindled a vulnerable elderly client out of £120,000 has told a court that he admitted to taking “some money”.
John Sinclair, a former partner at James and George Collie Solicitors, is on trial over allegations he embezzled a large sum of money from bank accounts belonging to 90-year-old client Dr Doreen Milne.
Sinclair, 69, had been granted power of attorney over the wealthy retired doctor’s finances and welfare following her dementia diagnosis in 2014.
Retired lawyer Anne-Mayse Churchill told the court that, following his dismissal from the firm, Sinclair told her during a private meeting “that he had taken some money”.
It is also alleged that Sinclair approached a work colleague and asked him how to permanently delete files from his firm’s computer system.
Sinclair, of Murtle Den Road, Aberdeen, denies all the charges against him.
‘Shocked’ and ‘in a state of confusion’
Fiscal depute Lynne MacVicar pressed Ms Churchill over what she recalled Sinclair saying at the meeting.
“That he had taken some of Dr Milne’s money,” she said, adding that he had also suggested a figure of £50,000 to her and her colleague.
“He said there were [bank] statements that he could give us to show the actual amount,” Ms Churchill explained.
Asked about her reaction upon hearing that her fellow partner in the firm had taken money from the account of a vulnerable 90-year-old client, Ms Churchill said she was “shocked” and “in a state of confusion”.
Jurors also heard from IT staff at James and George Collie Solicitors who claimed Sinclair had attempted to permanently delete computer files relating to the account of Dr Milne.
Angela Keith, former IT and operations manager at the firm, said when she showed bosses what Sinclair had tried to do they “went white” and left the room.
‘Alarm bells went off’
The issue had been brought to Ms Keith’s attention by IT support assistant Calum Edwards.
He claimed Sinclair had approached him and asked him if it was possible to delete the logs showing he had tried to delete files.
Mr Edwards said that when he saw what Sinclair wanted him to do “alarm bells went off in my head”.
He claimed he reported it to Ms Keith due to how worried and nervous Sinclair appeared during their conversation.
The court then heard partners held a crisis meeting in which they agreed to sack Sinclair from the law firm.
During cross-examination by defence solicitor Ian Duguid KC, he asked Mr Edwards whether he was aware that Sinclair had fallen on a set of stairs on his way to the office that day, explaining his demeanor.
“If he did indeed fall on the stairs, he certainly never mentioned it to me,” Mr Edwards responded.
The trial, before Sheriff Morag McLaughlin, continues.
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