Natalie McGarry gets 18 months

Natalie McGarry, the former SNP MP, has been jailed for 18 months after admitting stealing more than £25,000 intended for campaign groups.

During her trial it emerged McGarry took £750 due to Perth and Kinross foodbank, which would have provided supplies for 30 families.

She also used the cash to pay rent arrears as well as a holiday in Spain for her family.

The court found McGarry, who represented Glasgow East for two years, embezzled £21,000 from Women for Independence (WFI) in her role as treasurer of the organisation.

And more than £4,600 was taken from the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP while she was treasurer, secretary and convener.

McGarry was elected as an SNP member in 2015 but resigned the party whip following the emergence of fraud allegations - which she denied at the time - continuing in parliament as an independent.

She was charged by police in 2017 and didn't stand at that year's general election.

McGarry attempted to reverse her guilty plea after sacking her defence counsel before representing herself.

However the court refused to accept her new plea.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court Sheriff Paul Crozier sentenced Natalie McGarry to 18 months' imprisonment.

He said: “You have shown no remorse for your conduct. You have tried to avoid responsibility for your actions throughout, as is demonstrated by your attempt to withdraw your pleas of guilty and your continued denial of guilt in the reports prepared.”