A COUNCILLOR accused of defrauding the NHS out of more than £73,000 is to stand trial in March 2022.

Tanya Tucker is alleged to have taken the money while serving as either an employee of the NHS’ North of England Commissioning Support Unit, or as a Unison union official, between June 2013 and September 2017.

Mrs Tucker, a former Durham county councillor who was re-elected to Bishop Auckland Town Council after a recent by-election, denied eight counts of fraud by abuse of position at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court last month.

No trial date was set, as it was uncertain which court centre the hearing would be staged at, for what may prove a complex financial case, lasting up to a fortnight.

The case returned to court yesterday in the absence of Mrs Tucker, whose attendance was excused.

Judge James Adkin said he felt the trial could be accommodated at Durham Crown Court, providing the jury is spread around the court room, as has been the practice during the pandemic period, allowing space for the number of files required.

Crown and defence counsel agreed to a start date of Monday March 14 for a provisional two-week hearing.

Bail was extended for the 56-year-old defendant, of Walker Driver, Bishop Auckland, but she must attend a pre-trial hearing at the court, on Friday January 28.

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