Addict stole cheques from grandmother

A GAMBLING addict stole two cheques from his grandmother and cashed in one to the value of £785 to fund his habit, a court heard.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday heard James Taylor, 29, took the cheques from Margaret Whalen's home and forged her signature on one of them to get money.

Fiscal depute Bruce Macrosson said: "The accused's grandmother was shown a bank statement showing the 785 had gone missing.

"She was concerned and phoned the bank and the bank informed her it had gone into the accused's account and he was detained by police. He did admit these offences.

"The grandmother does not appear to be taking a sympathetic line."

Taylor, of Granton Medway, Edinburgh, admitted stealing two Bank of Scotland cheques from his grandmother between 1 August, 2008, and 26 August, 2008.

He also admitted uttering as genuine a forged cheque on 26 August, 2008, at the Clerk Street branch in the city and receiving an exchange transfer for 785.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre deferred sentence until July.