THE trial of a former councillor accused of stealing tens of thousands of pounds from a man in his 90s has been delayed after she was taken to hospital over the weekend.

Stephanie Todd is having tests in the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and was not at Teesside Crown Court today/yesterday.

The jury was told the news by Judge Stephen Ashurst after inquiries were carried out by police.

It is thought the case will go ahead tomorrow whether the 57-year-old former UKIP councillor on Richmondshire District Council is present or not.

Prosecution and defence barrister will make their closing speeches to the jury in the morning before Judge Ashurst sums up the case and the panel of six men and six women retires to consider its verdict on the single charge of theft.

Ms Todd is alleged to have plundered the current account of the retired telecoms worker over three years after "taking him under her wing" in 2013.

The prosecution claim the single mum tried to isolate the vulnerable widower from others and pressured him into changing his will to leave his estate to her rather than a cat charity.

Ms Todd, a former airline worker and flower shop owner, told the jury that she had a verbal agreement with the OAP that she should be paid £10 an hour for caring for him, and took about £300 a week from his account.

And she said other regular withdrawals of cash and expenditure on his bank card was because she was treating him "extravagantly" to clothes and food.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe accused her of being "thoroughly dishonest" in her dealings with the former serviceman and his finances by not keeping a record of them.

The jury heard that she cooked and washed for the pensioner, and did his food shopping, but abused her position of trust as a carer to also steal his money.

When she was arrested at her home in June 2016, police found bank statements - diverted from his previous solicitors - and the pensioner's cash card.

Ms Todd, of Shute Road, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, told the jury that she improved the life of the pensioner after they met in the summer of 2013.

Prosecution and defence barrister will make their closing speeches to the jury on Monday before Judge Stephen Ashurst sums up the case.

Judge Ashurst told the jury: "The earliest she may be discharged is tomorrow, but that may, of course, not happen.

"I have discussed the matter with counsel and I have concluded that the proper thing to do is release you this afternoon.

"Whether Ms Todd is with us or not, Mr Newcombe followed by Mr Walker [Jonathan, defence barrister] will make their closing speeches and I will sum up the case.

"You should draw no adverse conclusion whatsoever if Ms Todd is absent. It is important there is a resolution to this case one way or another."

(Proceeding)