FORMER Co-op boss Paul Flowers suffered a stroke the day before he was due to attend court charged with fraud.
The Labour councillor, 73, was scheduled to attend Manchester Magistrates' Court last week for a hearing.
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Paul Flowers suffered a stroke last week Credit: PA
But today's rescheduled appearance was told Flowers suffered a stroke on August 29.
Elizabeth Ridgway, defending Flowers, said his mobility has been affected and he is now struggling to leave his Salford home.
She told the court she received a letter from her client asking for the case to be adjourned while his physical and mental health recovers.
District Judge Tom Mitchell adjourned the hearing until October 4 and asked Flowers' lawyer to update the court on his "prognosis and diagnosis".
Former Methodist minister Flowers is accused of defrauding a woman of carpets and by using cheques while acting as power of attorney.
The alleged offences took place between June 28, 2016, and October 28, 2017.
Flowers – who once earned ￡132,000-a-year as chairman of the Co-Op bank - stepped down from the role in 2013.
He previously served as a Labour councillor for Rochdale and Bradford.
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Flowers was defrocked as a minister in 2017 after becoming embroiled in a drug scandal.