A FORMER accountant of Golden Casket has appeared in court charged with swindling more than �50,000 from the Greenock firm.

James Watson, 45, appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court charged with embezzling �52,230 in monies from the confectionery company, which is based at Fort Matilda.

The offence is alleged to have taken place while Watson was employed as an accountant with the Golden Casket Group over a period of almost four years.

The charge against him states that he embezzled the cash between 1 January 2007 and 31 October last year.

Watson, of Mathie Crescent in Gourock, made no plea or declaration during a brief appearance before Sheriff Paul Crozier.

He appeared at court from the public benches after being served with an invitation warrant to attend.

The case was continued for further examination and the accused was released on bail to appear again at a later date.

International confectionery distributor and producer Golden Casket today declined to comment on the ongoing case when contacted by the Telegraph.