Grantham woman to face six-week trial for her part in alleged fraud

Four people, including a Grantham woman, are to face a six-week trial for their parts in an alleged long-running fraud.

Grantham woman Kristina Cady, 32, of Keats Avenue, today (Tuesday) appeared at Lincoln Crown Court alongside Catherine McGreggor, 58, and Andrew Rendell-Read, also 58, both of Broadgate, Weston Hills, Spalding.

They appeared with a fourth defendant, Catherine Pierson, 33, of Northolt Close, Farnborough, Hampshire.

McGreggor and Rendell-Read entered not guilty pleas to two charges of fraud.

They both deny making false expenses claims relating to Innovate UK between December 3, 2015 and September 11, 2018 and abusing their positions as directors of VBC Instrument Engineering by transferring funds from business expenses between February 10, 2016 and April 18, 2019.

McGreggor and Rendell-Read both also denied a third charge of possessing articles for use in fraud, namely forged invoices, between February 10, 2016 and August 11, 2018.

Pierson and McGreggor also pleaded not guilty to a fourth charge of entering into or being concerned in a money laundering arrangement which saw them receive “criminal property”, namely payments from VBC Instrument Engineering, which were wage payments, between November 20, 2015 and March 31, 2018.

McGreggor also denied a fifth similar money laundering charge relating to VBC Instrument Engineering between November 20, 2015 and October 24, 2016.

Cady is accused of being part of the fraud for 11 months in 2015 and 2016 but was excused from entering a plea to the allegations she faces.

Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight adjourned the case for a trial beginning at Lincoln Crown Court on January 6, 2025. The trial is expected to last six weeks.

All four defendants were granted unconditional bail.