Woman who stole from friend is too ill for sentencing

A woman convicted of stealing jewellery and cash from one of her friends has had her sentence postponed due to ill health.

Michelle Sales, 49, returned to Ashludie Steadings in Monifieth after a two-week family trip to Lanzarote on October 25 last year, only to find one of her window panes missing along with £15,000 worth of jewellery and £8,000 in cash from her bedroom.

Susan Beattie, 42, of Carnoustie, was found guilty of the break-in and theft at Forfar Sheriff Court after Sheriff Pino Di Emidio found her evidence was “not reliable”.

She had claimed her former friend intended to commit insurance fraud and “panicked” when police came to investigate the theft.

Appearing for Beattie on Tuesday, solicitor John Boyle said his client had checked in to the Carseview psychiatric unit at Ninewells Hospital.

The court heard the information had only been made available that day, and sentence was further deferred to September 11.

Sheriff Di Emidio said: “If it were to be the case she is unlikely to attend through ill health, it would help to know in advance.”

Beattie denied breaking into the house and stealing jewellery and cash between October 10 and 25 last year.