Missing woman 'filled income gaps'

Jan 28 2013

A missing businesswoman alleged to have been murdered helped "fill the gaps" to make people appear as if they had enough income for a mortgage, a court has heard.

Lynda Spence, 27, is said to have been "well known" for providing replacement bank statements and other financial documents. Ms Spence has not been seen since April 2011.

At the High Court in Glasgow where four men are on trial accused of murdering her, the jury heard Ms Spence was helped in making fake Danish government bearer bonds, which claimed to be worth over £6 million, by Amash Syed.

Mr Syed, who describes himself as a self-employed printer, said he never asked Ms Spence what the documents were for and that he believed they were novelty items like "Monopoly money".

He told the court: "Lynda Spence used to provide mortgages. Ms Spence could actually fill that gap if people needed replacement bank statements. Some people were desperate for a mortgage but couldn't provide all the paper work. She was well known for these mortgages, especially amongst the Asian community."

Derek Ogg QC, defending one of the murder accused, Colin Coats, asked the witness: "Do you mean she forged false bank statements?" The 50-year-old father-of-eight replied: "I don't know if they are classed as forged. They could just be replacement documents."

Mr Syed claimed in court that he did not tell police about the fake government bonds until the third and final statement they took from him because he was frightened. He and his family were threatened in their Glasgow home by someone named Colin, he claims.

Mr Ogg put it to him that he did not tell police because he was frightened they would find out he printed forged documents, which Mr Syed denied. On Friday Mr Syed did not identify the person he knew as Colin in court.

Coats, 42, David Parker, 38, Philip Wade, 42, and Paul Smith, 47, are accused of abducting Ms Spence on April 14 2011 and holding her hostage at a flat in West Kilbride, Ayrshire for up to a fortnight before murdering her. Parker told police in an interview played in court that she was held at his flat after he was offered £1,500.

Coats is further accused of threatening Mr Syed, his daughter and his wife at their home sometime between June 1 and June 30 2011. The four accused deny a total of 26 charges. The trial before Lord Pentland continues.