Weston Hills woman faces fraud charges

Three women face a trial for their parts in an alleged long-running fraud.

The women – including Catherine McGreggor of Broadgate, Weston Hills - have all appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court, where their cases were sent on to Lincoln Crown Court for trial.

Grantham woman Kristina Cady, of Keats Avenue, is accused of entering into an arrangement which saw her receive “criminal property”, namely payments from VBC Instrument Engineering, which were disguised as wages.

The same charge is faced by Catherine Pierson, of Northolt Close, Farnborough, Hampshire.

Cady, 32, is accused of being part of the scam for 11 months in 2015 and 2016, while Pierson, 33, was allegedly part of it from 2015 into March 2018.

It is alleged that these agreements were with Catherine McGreggor, who was a director of VBC Instrument Engineering.

McGreggor, of Broadgate, Weston Hills, is accused of carrying out fraud by abusing her position, as the director, to make a gain for herself, between March 23, 2016 and February 21, 2020.

It is alleged that the 58-year-old had in her possession or under her control fake invoices to VBC Engineering Ltd, for use in the course of or in connection with a fraud, between February 10, 2014 and August 11, 2018.

McGreggor is also said to have made false expense claims to non-departmental public body Innovate UK between December 3, 2015 and September 11, 2018, with the intention of making a gain for herself.

Two further charges relate to the payments made to Cady and Pierson.

Cady, McGreggor and Pierson will appear at Lincoln Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on August 24. All were released on unconditional bail.