A SALTCOATS woman has appeared in court after she admitted embezzeling over £10,000 from Auchenharvie Figure Skating Club in Stevenston.

Katherine Findlay, 45, of Winton Circus, admitted the charge, which occurred between August of last year and April of this year, at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.

The court heard how Findlay had been involved with the club for the past nine years and had previously been President and how each child paid a £40 fee to join as well as further payments being made to the club by Skate UK.

The accused was a regular member of the club and treasurer as well as being a signatory for the bank account.

It was noted that members had been leaving the club and they were struggling financially, with fundraisers being organised.

The treasuer from the previous year was speaking to Findlay who seemed reluctant to let her have a more active role and meetings were held to discuss the failing as well as a bounced cheque.

On August 18, there was a meeting where the accused wanted to obtain signatures and was given nine blank cheques that had not been signed.

That October, it came to light that there was a bill that had been unpaid and there was an enquiry into this to which Findlay produced a letter she said was from an accountant stating that the club was £6,000 in profit.

This was questioned and it was actually £6,000 of debt and had been an error.

This is where the previous treasurer had doubts and all financial documents were to be collated.

Findlay then produced statements from October and November which showed she had withdrawn money herself but this was to pay for the bill directly.

This then revealed that the club was in fact overdrawn and Findlay was then voted off the committee in January of this year.

Findlay admitted that she had gotten herself into debt, had been messing with the books and had taken money out of the account.

The court also heard how her husband had visited Saltcoats Police Office to seek advice in regards to a loan shark.

Further police investigations showed that £11,349 had been embezzled by Findlay.

Mr Holliman, solicitor for the accused, noted that all monies had been paid back to the club before Sheriff McDonald said: “This is a serious matter and a breach of trust.

"I appreciate that you’ve paid it back but I need to know more about you.” The case was adjourned until August for reports.