FORMER SNP MP Natalie McGarry has been found guilty of embezzling almost £25,000 from pro-independence groups.

The jury had retired to consider its verdict earlier on Thursday after a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Tom Hughes told jurors to ignore the publicity the trial of McGarry had attracted and to focus solely on the evidence presented.

McGarry, 40, was found guilty of embezzling £21,000 while treasurer of Women for Independence between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015.

The National: Natalie McGarry arriving at Glasgow Sheriff Court on the day she was found guiltyNatalie McGarry arriving at Glasgow Sheriff Court on the day she was found guilty

The ex-Glasgow East MP was also found to have taken £4661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP.

Jurors were told that in order to convict McGarry, they would have to be confident beyond reasonable doubt that the funds were misappropriated and used dishonestly.

McGarry, of Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, had denied both charges against her.

The six-week trial has heard evidence from several witnesses, including current and former Scottish health secretaries Humza Yousaf and Jeane Freeman.