Woman took cash from royal church

There is a memorial plaque to the late Queen Mother at Canisbay Church

A former treasurer embezzled more than £40,000 from a Caithness church where the late Queen Mother had worshipped, a court has heard.

Mother-of-three Lynn Shields admitted taking the money from Canisbay Church, near John o' Groats, over a six-and-a-half year period.

She was jailed for 12 months at Wick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay unveiled a memorial to his grandmother at the church at the weekend.

Shields wept as details of her offence were outlined in court.

She started taking money from the weekly collection plates soon after being appointed treasurer in 1998.

Shields sought to cover up the missing money by inter-account transfers and withholding the congregation's annual contributions to the Church of Scotland's central fund.

However, early last year when more discrepancies emerged the kirk session contacted police.

Shields told police that she was always going to try and pay the money back but the more she took, the harder it became.

Summer visits

She did not indicate why she had taken the money or what the money was spent on.

Shields, of Skirza, Freswick, admitted embezzling £41,581.73 from the church.

The court heard that Shields and her husband have re-mortgaged their house to repay all the money she misappropriated.

Solicitor Sylvia MacLennan said Shields, a first offender, was of previous excellent character.

The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay recently attended the church

Ms MacLennan said Shields' church had stood by her and last year wrote to police to ask whether the court proceedings could be aborted.

Members of the Royal Family worship at Canisbay during summer visits to nearby Castle of Mey, Caithness.

Prince Charles and Camilla attended on Sunday when they also unveiled a slate memorial to the late Queen Mother.

The oval plaque includes an inscription written by Charles, as well as a likeness of his grandmother's smiling face.

The prince commissioned sculptor Adam Williamson to carve the personal tribute to her memory.