Fraudster former MP Natalie McGarry has been told her “blatant breach of trust” as a politician means that she will serve a two year prison sentence.
The former SNP MP for Glasgow East was found guilty of embezzling tens of thousands of pounds from pro-independence groups.
In a remarkable summing up the Sheriff Tom Hughes said McGarry had fallen “well short of those the public should have a right to expect from politicians and MPs”.
READ MORE: Former SNP MP sentenced to two years in prison
Sentencing McGarry at Glasgow Sheriff Court, the Sheriff said she had betrayed people who put their trust in her and that a custodial sentence was inevitable.
McGarry was accused of embezzling £21,000 while treasurer of Women for Independence between 2013 and 2015.
She was accused of taking £4,661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association (GRA) of the SNP.
The Sheriff said: “By your involvement in these offences as I have outlined, you have not only betrayed the trust placed in you by others, but your standards have fallen well short of those the public should have a right to expect from politicians and MPs.”
“Because of the serious nature of these offences, a custodial sentence is unfortunately inevitable. No other sentence is appropriate.
The sentence has to reflect the serious nature of the offences for which you have been convicted, the prolonged period over which these took place, and your blatant breach of trust placed in you by others.
"In all of the circumstances you shall serve a custodial sentence of two years in prison.”
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