Confiscation proceedings against an East Renfrewshire woman convicted of embezzling almost £25,000 from pro-independence groups have been postponed to allow her appeal process to continue.

Former MP Natalie McGarry, 41, was jailed for two years in June last year after she was found guilty of embezzling £19,974 while treasurer of Women for Independence and £4,661 while treasurer and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP.

Last month, she was granted leave to appeal against her conviction and sentence.

At a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court today, Patrick Campbell, representing McGarry, asked for the confiscation hearing to be continued to a later date.

He said: "Matters have now moved on as far as the appeal proceedings are concerned.

"Leave to appeal conviction and sentence has now been granted."

The court heard that a procedural hearing in the appeal is due to take place later this month, followed by a substantive hearing in February.

Sheriff Barry Divers continued the case until March 7.

He said: "In the circumstances, I will continue this matter for eight weeks and see where we are with this case."

McGarry, who stood trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court last spring, did not attend today's hearing and has been excused from attending the next one in March.

In May last year, a jury found her guilty by majority of a charge of embezzling £19,974 while she was treasurer of Women for Independence between April 2013 and November 2015.

The charge relating to her time at the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP covered the period between April 2014 and August 2015.

The Crown launched proceeds of crime proceedings against McGarry following her sentencing, seeking to ensure that profits obtained through criminal conduct are confiscated.

She was elected as a SNP member in 2015 but resigned the party whip after the emergence of fraud allegations, which she denied.

McGarry, of Clarkston, continued as an independent MP representing Glasgow East but did not seek re-election in 2017.