An 87-year-old man could face jail after he admitted ripping off more than £10,000 from his partner of more than 40 years.
Archibald McGregor pled guilty to embezzling the cash from his common law wife while he was supposed to be looking after her.
He admitted embezzling £10,852.61 over nearly 16 months while he was acting as Norma Fenwick’s financial guardian.
McGregor told Perth Sheriff Court that he was responsible for helping himself to the money that belonged to his lifelong partner.
The court was told the embezzlement came to light when Ms Fenwick’s niece took a look at her frail aunt’s finances.
Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall told the court: “They had been in a relationship for 40 years but have never married.
“He had access to her funds in order to care for her. The offence had been identified by a niece of the lady.”
McGregor, of Bute Drive, Perth, admitted embezzling £10,852.61 from the 88-year-old between 10 December 2015 and 31 March 2017. He admitted taking the money from the Santander bank and a Marks and Spencer cash machine in Perth while he was “acting as financial guardian and having been entrusted with the management of the financial affairs of Norma Fenwick.”
It is understood that the prosecutor had under-estimated the length of the couple’s relationship and that they had actually been together for around 60 years.
Sheriff Robert Dickson said: “I’m going to continue the case to allow the social work department to get further information on your situation.”
Sentence was deferred for the preparation of social background reports.
