Accused Plymouth church treasurer too ill to attend court on £118,000 fraud charge

A FORMER church treasurer accused of defrauding more than £118,000 from her church, its pre-school and a youth club has failed to appear at court due to illness.

Nicola Holding, aged 48, was due to enter pleas before a judge at Plymouth Crown Court.

But her barrister Jo Martin said she was too ill to attend.

Holding, of Hamoaze Place, in Devonport, has so far indicated "no plea" to three charges when she appeared before city magistrates.

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She is yet to appear at the senior court.

Holding is accused of dishonestly abusing her position as church treasurer at St Boniface's Church, in St Budeaux.

It is said that she did so to make a gain of £50,794.79.

The offence is alleged to have been carried out between January 3, 2008, and June 17, 2011.

The second count, dated between May 5, 2008 and June 17, 2011 again charges her with committing fraud by abuse of position.

The offence is alleged to have taken place while she was acting as treasurer of St Boniface pre-school, to make a gain of £68,080.44.

Holding also allegedly acquired £500 while working as treasurer of the St Budeaux youth project, also known as 'Budo Youth'.

Jo Martin, for Holding, yesterday produced a sick note on her behalf saying she was unfit to attend court for the scheduled appearance. She added that the defendant was "bedevilled by medical problems" but had to be in court in order to enter her pleas.

Miss Martin said she was due to see a cardiologist this week.

Judge Paul Darlow adjourned the case until March 18.