Community service for theft wife

Veronica Haggart, 64, was sentenced to 300 hours of community service.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard that she was scared of her husband of 40 years due to previous physical and verbal abuse.

Des Haggart only discovered the theft when he went to the safe to get money to buy her a special present and found £8,000 was missing.

In passing sentence, Sheriff Richard Davidson appeared to show some pity for Haggart, who wept in the dock.

"My client has done everything in her power to recompense her husband and she has shown a high degree of remorse"
Solicitor Nick Whelan

Sheriff Davidson told her: "Mr Haggart appears to have come out of this smelling of roses and we all know how they grow best. He has had his losses met, and then some.

"These are very tragic circumstances. While looking at this matter objectively, it takes a certain amount of manipulation and duplicity to achieve what you have achieved.

"But now, it would appear that in any competition of humanity between you two, you would certainly come out on top."

After her art gallery in Edzell went into the red, Haggart - a trained book-keeper who her husband trusted to take care of family finances - admitted forging his signature to cash policies with various assurance companies worth £40,000.

She also admitted forging his signature to obtain a further £15,000 through a bank loan application.

Solicitor Nick Whelan said: "She simply couldn't discuss the finances of the shop because she was frightened of him.

"She felt that the family would have fallen apart and that would have had consequences for her, given how he reacted in the past."

Showed remorse

The court heard how Haggart had arranged to pay the money back. She conveyed her half of the matrimonial home to Mr Haggart and also gave him her half of the shop premises.

In total, she gave more than £86,000 to her husband and in return he agreed not to lodge a complaint with police.

However, six months later, in May 2006, Mr Haggart reported the matter to Tayside Police and gave a full statement.

Mr Whelan said: "My client has done everything in her power to recompense her husband and she has shown a high degree of remorse. She has tried to put matters right.

"There no longer appears to be a loss. This crime was an attempt to keep the family together."

The couple are now divorced.