LONGEST CRIMINAL TRIAL IN UK HISTORY ENDS AS FRAUDSTER IS JAILED FOR £1.6M SCAM

Edwin McLaren (left) and his wife Lorraine McLaren, who were convicted for large-scale property fraud following what is believed to be the longest criminal trial in UK legal history.

Edwin McLaren, 52, was sentenced to 11 years on Tuesday after being found guilty of persuading vulnerable victims to sign over their homes as part of a £1.6 million property fraud scheme.

He was found guilty in May of 29 charges following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow which began in September 2015 and heard evidence over 320 days.

McLaren's wife Lorraine, 51, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years after being found guilty of two charges, involving a fraudulent mortgage application on their own home.

Prosecutors said McLaren preyed on vulnerable people and arranged for the title deeds of their homes to be transferred to his associates without the victims' knowledge.

McLaren, a financial adviser, placed adverts in the national press for companies offering property solutions.

Targeting people in financial distress as a result of family bereavement, debt or illness, the fraudster would either offer to buy their home or lend them money to clear their debts.

In return he would receive what he claimed was a part-share ownership of their property. But in fact their properties were being transferred wholesale to the names of others, meaning they lost the title deeds to their homes.

Although McLaren would drip-feed his victims money they never received the amount they were expecting.

At the same time the fraudster enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle, buying four cars, including a Bentley, and going on holidays in Dubai, police said.

One victim Marion McAlinden, 51, from Glasgow, described the fraudster "the lowest of the low".

She said McLaren left her life in tatters after she agreed to sell him her £100,000 flat but received just £20,000 in return.

Ms McAlinden said: "He ruined my life. I want to see him in a cell with absolutely nothing because that's what he did to me.

"It makes me feel sick to think that he had all my money and was spending it on himself."

The trial lasted as long as it did because the court heard evidence running over several days from numerous witnesses dealing with complex topics such as conveyancing and accountancy.

Some witnesses were vulnerable and one woman was so ill that the court took evidence from her at home via video link.

Shona Harrison's living room in Newcastle was set up as a court, with an official present to pass documents to her.

Only 12 jurors from the original 15 remained at the end of the case and at one stage there was a break of three weeks as one got married.

Passing sentence on McLaren, judge Lord Stewart said: "The evidence shows frankly breathtaking dishonesty in every aspect of your enterprise. The jury have found you an outright liar."

Lord Stewart added: "It appears your motivation was to secure funds from mortgage lenders to fund an affluent lifestyle."

In mitigation, McLaren's defence lawyer Mark Moir said his client, who maintained his innocence, was a first time offender and that the length of the trial had contributed to mental health issues.

Lorraine McLaren's lawyer Kevin McCallum said her husband had a "controlling role in financial matters".

He said there was no evidence she was involved in defrauding vulnerable people and described Edwin McLaren as the "driving force" of the scheme.

McLaren and his wife, of Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, were caught after a police investigation involving up to 100 officers discovered a massive fraudulent scheme, with 29 properties appearing on the indictment.

Prosecutors said McLaren had shown no remorse and maintained a pretence that he was merely helping people.