Assistant denies personal spending on author’s card

A FORMER personal assistant to JK Rowling, inset, has been accused of “ridiculous” spending on the author’s credit card.

In a civil case, it is alleged Amanda Donaldson wrongly benefited from the credit card and by taking Harry Potter merchandise worth almost £24,000.

Under cross-examination, Ms Donaldson said all the spending was personal or business-related to Ms Rowling. The author is pursuing damages in the case at Airdrie Sheriff Court which has been brought under her married name Joanne Murray.

Ms Donaldson, 35, was suspended and later dismissed in 2017 over the allegations.

Ms Rowling’s lawyer Kirsteen MacDonald queried transactions made by the former PA at gift shop Paper Tiger totalling more than £2,000.

Referring to one receipt showing the purchase of five chocolate bars and a Harris Tweed purse, Ms Donaldson told the court they were bought as a gift for a contact to “maintain Mrs Murray’s business relationship”.

Ms MacDonald said: “That is a strange combination (of purchases). It is ridiculous to suggest that’s what you would send to a business contact of Mrs Murray.

“Is it not the case here that you have again been caught out and this purchase was for you?” The witness said: “Absolutely not.” The former PA was also asked about the purchase of Halloween cards from Paper Tiger as well as chocolate letters spelling I,L and Y.

Ms Donaldson said they were bought for an ill child on behalf of Ms Rowling. Ms MacDonald said: “I put it to you the letters stand for ‘I love you’ and were bought for you to give someone you were in a relationship with, or for your own child.”

Ms Donaldson denied the claim and said: “I recall the purchase as a whole but I don’t recall the particular letters.”

The civil case continues in January.