A shoplifter tried to secure her release from prison by telling a Dundee sheriff her father was being buried later the same day.
Sheriff Gregor Murray took the unusual step of making Mhairi Taylor’s solicitor leave the court to check his client’s story.
When he returned, he confirmed there was no such funeral arranged.
Taylor, 40, appeared from custody at the Dundee Sheriff Court on Monday morning.
She admitted a number of shoplifting charges, which had been committed earlier this year in the Overgate, Kingsway retail park and a supermarket in the Kirkton area.
Taylor had, through her solicitor Ian Houston, appealed to Sheriff Gregor Murray for bail so she could attend her father’s funeral at Birkhill Cemetery later in the afternoon.
After Mr Houston returned to the court following his ring-round of funeral directors and the cemetery itself, Taylor maintained her sister had given her the information.
She was remanded and will return for sentencing on May 4.
Taylor, of Dundee, admitted that on January 6 and again on January 8 this year she stole a quantity of clothing from Foot Asylum, Overgate.
On January 8, she stole electrical goods at Tesco Kingsway and clothing and deodorant from Asda, Derwent Avenue.
Sheriff Murray said he could not trust she would attend for reports or supervision meetings if he granted her bail but did not comment on the reason put forward for her request.
