Solicitor admits £270,000 embezzlement charge with aunt's money

A Cupar solicitor had sentence deferred yesterday after pleading guilty to a charge of embezzling nearly £270,000 from his aunt who had granted him power of attorney.

William Walls (62), then sole principal of the firm McQuittys, took the money over a period of nearly nine years, ending in October 2013, when he was suspended following a Law Society of Scotland investigation. Concerns had been raised by the family about withdrawals from the account of his aunt, Mary Brown.

Dundee Sheriff Court was told that Walls had used the money to keep his practice afloat. On occasions he withdrew cash from Mrs Brown's account and took it straight to his own bank.

Simon Collins, for Walls, said Walls had cooperated and sold property so the money could be repaid. He had not acted to supplement his lifestyle.

Deferring sentence until November for reports, Sheriff Alastair Brown told Walls that he had to consider the possibility of custody.