A WOMAN awaiting sentence for defrauding a garage of £32,000 was told that if she comes to court in a wheelchair it will have no bearing on the outcome.

Judge Christopher Prince again adjourned sentencing Paula Kitching yesterday for six counts of fraud while he awaits a doctor’s report to confirm whether there is any medical reason why she should not serve a prison sentence.

She took the money in the 27 months after being taken on as book-keeper for Louis Smith Motors, in the village of Staindrop, near Barnard Castle.

Durham Crown Court heard her failure to submit a VAT return led to the company receiving a £1,000 fine from HM Customs and Revenue, and her dishonesty almost caused the small motor repair business, run by a former family friend, to fold.

She admitted the six charges last week and was told she was facing a potential prison sentence, despite being a wheelchair-user.

Kitching appeared via video link to the court from Teesside Magistrates’ Court, in Middlesbrough, as it is the only court building in the North-East able to cater for custodial cases involving wheelchair users.

On her return to the magistrates’ building at Teesside, again in a wheelchair, for a further video link hearing to Durham, the court was told that she was seen walking unaided into Bishop Auckland Police Station, on another matter, involving someone else, on Saturday.

Asked by Judge Prince if she really did need to use the wheelchair, her counsel, Simon Walker, said it was due to a side-effect of otherwise successful surgery for a non-malignant brain tumour.

Mr Walker said it has left her only able to use one eye, causing her to sometimes suffer dizziness walking, meaning she struggles to manage stairs.

Adjourning until later this month to allow for the medical report update, Judge Prince told Kitching she could still appear via video link from the magistrates’ court, in Middlesbrough.

But he added: “If you don’t need a wheelchair, don’t bring one with you.

“If you want to be in a wheelchair, be in a wheelchair, but it makes no difference as to sentence.”

The judge told Mr Walker: “All I want is a clear statement to say whether or not there’s any medical condition that would render the defendant unable to serve a prison sentence.”

He bailed Kitching, in Lingard Walk, Newton Aycliffe, to return for sentence on April 28.