PANTO DAME ACCUSED OF TAKING £14K FROM PACE
Money claims denied
A panto dame is accused of ripping off a kids’drama group that launched the careers of James McAvoy and Paolo Nutini.
David McCann, 57, appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court charged with embezzling £14,000 from Pace Theatre Company, in Paisley.
He founded the youth group three decades ago, appearing in its festive plays in drag for more than 25 years.
McCann – who performed under the stage name David Wallace – took on a job promoting
small businesses after being dismissed from Pace.
Defence lawyer Martin McInnes revealed there were delays with the case, with more than 1,000 pages of evidence to review.
He said: “A year after his dismissal from the complainers, the court case started.
“I am not prepared for trial for a number of reasons.
“It’s a little regrettable it’s come to this stage to adjourn the trial after several adjournments in the past.
“With a further period of time, this case will be fully focused.
“It will save a significant number of witnesses from having to attend.
“My friend expects to call three witnesses in this case.
“I envisage only calling my client.
“I may also call a forensic accountant, who has prepared a report which became available yesterday afternoon.”
McCann denies embezzling £14,000 from the company.
He is accused of taking cash from the group’s base in School Wynd, Paisley, between December 2013 and March 2017.
Pace Theatre Company has around 2,000 members, making it one the biggest drama groups in Britain.
It stages performances around the country and is funded mostly through membership fees.
Bodyguard and Rocketman star Richard Madden, 33, singer Paolo Nutini, 32, and Hollywood leading man James McAvoy, 40, were among those who learned their trade with the company.
McCann also worked alongside Paisley- born BBC Fame Academy winner and songwriter David Sneddon, 41, and countless stage and television actors.
He previously boasted how he was poised to break a record by notching up 30 consecutive years as a pantomime dame.
But he left Pace without warning in July 2017.
McCann also sat on the board of directors of town centre business improvement district Paisley First and the Paisley Community Trust.
He took up a job with Crieff Succeeds after moving on from the drama group.
It represents the interests of small traders in the market town in Perth and Kinross.
Yesterday, prosecutor Carol Cameron confirmed extra time would be needed.
Sheriff Tom McCartney insisted the case should be ready to go to trial by the end of the year.
He said: “I will grant an adjournment of today’s trial diet to allow further time to both sides for preparation.”
McCann, of Glasgow, is slated to stand trial later this year.