TWO people accused of defrauding a dying Tilford woman out of £100,000 face a retrial after one of the defendants was taken ill this week.

Dog breeder John Lowe, 84, formerly of Keeper’s Cottage Stud in Waverley Lane, and co-defendant Stacy Banner, 42 of Oldbury, West Midlands have pleaded not guilty to eight counts of fraud.

Mrs Banner has also denied a further count of being in possession of articles for use in fraud while her husband Andrew Banner, 35, also of Oldbury, West Midlands, has pleaded not guilty to one charge of acquiring the proceeds of crime.

The trial began in earnest on Thursday, May 12. However, the jury was discharged and the trial discontinued this week for health reasons relating to Mrs Banner.

A retrial date is expected to be fixed for 2017.