Former Saudi nurse sentenced for credit card fraud

McLauchlan, who appeared in court under her married name of Ferrie, was sentenced to eight years and 500 lashes by a Saudi court in 1997 for the murder of Australian nurse Yvonne Gilford and the theft of her credit cards.

The 45-year-old was placed on probation for two years after admitting three charges of credit card fraud at Dundee sheriff court.

The court heard McLauchlan's time in a Saudi jail had left an "indelible mark" on her.

Earlier this year, the mother-of-two admitted that on April 30, 2010, she used two credit cards, one Visa and one Mastercard, in someone else's name to commit internet frauds from her home by ordering goods worth 1,000 from online retailers Argos and Littlewoods.

She also used the cards to buy two televisions, totalling 462.98, a mobile phone worth 217.93, and a netbook computer at 324.95.

A not guilty plea to a charge that Ferrie, of Brook Street, Broughty Ferry, stole a purse from Dundee College was accepted by the Crown.

She refused to comment as she left the court yesterday.

Ferrie was arrested in December 1996 for the murder of Gilford who was beaten and stabbed, after being found with the dead woman's credit cards.

She was subsequently convicted after her friend and fellow nurse Deborah Parry, from Alton, Hants, confessed during a lengthy and terrifying interrogation.