Driver given absolute discharge over travel card fraud charge

A Fort William woman who was charged with fraud after using a deceased person’s bus pass to aid a woman suffering from dementia has been given an absolute discharge by a sheriff.

Caroline Watt, 57, of Camanachd Crescent, had pleaded guilty that between July 11, 2015 and June 16, 2017, while employed as a bus driver by Lochaber Action on Disability she had been in possession of a bus pass for a dead woman.

Watt had repeatedly presented the travel card to the onboard reader on a bus of which she was the driver when she knew the holder had died and £1,570.62 was therefore obtained by fraud.

However, last week Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald had heard that Watt had received no personal financial gain from the fradulent use of the card and had only done so to help another bus passenger who suffered from dementia.

Procurator Fiscal Robert Weir said when the matter came to light Watt had admitted her part straight away.

‘There was no benefit financially to the accused – she had used a dead person’s bus pass on behalf of a third party.’

Defence agent Hamish Melrose said Watt had worked for Lochaber Action on Disability for 18 years as its transport officer, but had also played a number of other roles in the charity’s operations. He said when the matter came to the attention of Lochaber Action on Disability, both Ms Watt and another member had been instructed to attend at Transport Scotland’s offices in Glasgow.

Mr Melrose said it was when a good friend of Ms Watt’s had died suddenly, the woman’s bus card for free travel was left on the bus.

‘Another lady who suffered from dementia was also entitled to a bus card but because of the difficulties associated with dementia, the card could not be sent out to her.

‘The bus involved was owned by Lochaber Action on Disability itself. Any benefit was to Lochaber Action on Disability and the whole sum was repaid – no money went near Caroline Watt.

‘I think it has come as a complete shock to Ms Watt that she finds herself sitting in this court on this matter.’

After hearing from Mr Melrose and Mr Weir, Sheriff MacDonald said she was going to make an ‘unusual’ order.

‘You didn’t gain anything personally by doing this. You were only trying to help someone with dementia, who could’ve got travel if Transport Scotland had issued that [card]. I am therefore going to grant you an absolute discharge.’