FORMER SNP MP Natalie McGarry has admitted embezzling more than £25,600 from pro-independence groups.

The 37-year-old was in Glasgow Sheriff Court faced three charges of embezzlement, and one charge under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

McGarry admitted to two of the charges and the Crown accepted not guilty pleas to the other two.

She embezzled £21,000 from Women for Independence in her role as treasurer of the organisation.

She transferred money raised through fundraising events into her personal bank accounts and failed to transfer charitable donations to Perth and Kinross food bank and to Positive Prison, Positive Future between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015.

She also used cheques drawn on the Women for Independence bank account to deposit money into her own account.

McGarry also admitted embezzling £4,661.02 in the course of her role as treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP between April 4, 2015 and August 10, 2015.

McGarry was one of 56 SNP MPs elected to the Commons in the 2015 General Election but withdrew from the party whip when the allegations were first made against her six months later.

She continued as an independent MP but did not stand in the General Election in 2017.