A WOMAN accused of clearing out £179,000 from her parents’ accounts and credit cards while they were travelling around Europe has had her case adjourned.

Melissa Humphreys, 33, faces 17 charges including fraud by abuse of position, obtaining property by deception and theft.

It is alleged the cash was taken in 2006 after her parents retired, sold their house and bought a motor home to travel around the continent and the couple began to realise what was happening four years later.

Humphreys, of Hutley Drive, Colchester, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday but Steven Levy, defending, asked for an adjournment until next month so more details could be sought from credit card companies.

At a previous hearing, the court heard Humphreys was left responsible for her parents’ credit cards and bank accounts but the accounts were later emptied and their credit cards maxed out.

The bench at Colchester Magistrates' Court also heard new credit cards were also taken out in their name without the couple’s consent.

It is alleged her actions only came to light when her parents could not afford to get home from their European trip.