A LAWYER and his firm's office manager have appeared in court accused of trying to take money from a property sale on behalf of an elderly client.

Solicitor David Gatherer, 51, and office manager Joyce Watts, 48, of Durham firm Carpenters, in Old Elvet, are charged with conspiracy to defraud.

They are accused of trying to gain £4,500 from the sale of a shop the firm was asked to sell on behalf of an elderly woman in Esh Winning, County Durham.

A police inquiry was launched after concerns over the transaction were raised by a potential buyer in the summer.

Durham Police confirmed the charges were brought as a result of an investigation by the force's fraud squad.

A force spokesman said: "It is alleged that an attempt was made to defraud the owners of a property in Esh Winning to the extent of several thousand pounds.

"Inquiries led to two people being charged."

Mr Gatherer, of East Herrington, Sunderland, and Mrs Watts, of Langley Park, County Durham, were charged in December.

They appeared before Newcastle magistrates the following week, when the case was committed to the city's crown court.

Both appeared at the crown court this week, but no pleas were taken and they were bailed to return for a preliminary hearing in March.