A CHARITY did not receive a donation from a Scottish independence organisation whose finances were controlled by former MP Natalie McGarry, a court heard yesterday.

Positive Prisons Positive Futures chief executive Peter White, 68, claimed Women for Independence (WFI) failed to send £326 from a bucket collection in March 2015.

Ms McGarry, 40, originally from Inverkeithing, allegedly stole more than £25,000 from two organisations advocating for Scottish independence between April 2013 and August 2015.

The former SNP MP for Glasgow East is accused of embezzling £21,000 while treasurer for Women for Independence between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015.

Jurors at Glasgow Sheriff Court earlier heard that WFI held a bucket collection at a conference which was split between the organisation and the Positive Prisons.

Mr White stated that the charity’s aim was to “improve the chances of people who were prisoners to restore citizenship when they were released”.

A total of £326 was to be sent to Positive Prisons.

An email shown to the jury from March 2014 displayed Mr White thanking WFI as well as providing the bank details.

Prosecutor Alistair Mitchell asked if he had heard again from WFI and he answered “No.”

Mr White was seen to email again in April 2014 “checking everything was ok”.

An email from Ms McGarry that day was shown to say the cheque had not been cashed. She appeared to apologise for the “confusion” and asked for an address to send the cheque.

Mr White said that the charity did not send the information requested.

He said: “We were a busy charity, I put it on the back burner and didn’t pursue it any further.”

Mr Mitchell: “It was agreed that there was no donation received by the charity, were you aware of that?”

Mr White: “There was no donation received from WFI – that’s correct.”

A second charge states Ms McGarry took £4,661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convenor of Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP.

Ms McGarry, now of Clarkston, ­denies the two charges.

The trial continues.