A retired builder accused of embezzling his sick girlfriend's life savings yesterday claimed he invested it in a struggling bus firm. William Dunn, 69, is said to have swiped £122,027.15 from Lynda Grant, 63, after being granted Power of Attorney over her.
Former Beatson cancer nurse Lynda spent time in hospital and a care home following complications from an operation. Cancer survivor Dunn gave evidence in his own defence at his Paisley Sheriff Court trial.
He said he spoke to Lynda and her son Alan about reducing her assets so she would not be liable for care home costs. Dunn said he gave Lynda’s money to Karen Dolan, 59, so she could invest it in Paisley-based coach company Colchri Limited.
The court heard he sent Dolan a total of £115,000 in nine transactions – and married her seven months after the last payment. The pensioner said he expected to receive the money back with a 3.5 per cent profit.
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But he said he never received a penny back and had no paperwork to prove they had agreed on a business loan. And Dunn, of Elderslie, Renfrewshire, who denies embezzling the money between May 26, 2015, and March 1, 2017, said he began a relationship with Dolan because Lynda had told him to move on with his life.
He said he began dating Dolan, who was a director of Colchri, around March 2015, while looking after Lynda’s affairs. The court heard they split up in September 2017, seven weeks before their first wedding anniversary.
The trial continues.
