UK’s longest ever criminal trial sees husband and wife convicted of fraud

At the High Court in Glasgow, Edwin Mclaren, 52, was found guilty of defrauding homeowners to the tune of £1.6 million in a case that began in September 2015.

Mr Mclaren’s scam involved promising loans to homeowners in exchange for a share in their homes, ultimately depriving them of ownership and pocketing the proceeds from the subsequent sales.

The fraudster, who lived in a £760,000 mansion in Renfrewshire and owned a yellow Bentley, was able to put his children through private school and give his wife a £100,000 six carat diamond ring.

Mr Mclaren would target people in vulnerable situations who had been unable to get bank loans because of their weak financial positions.

He was found guilty on 29 charges, with sentencing deferred until next month. Proceeds of crime proceedings have been started against him.

His wife Lorraine, 52, was convicted of involvement in the scam to the extent of £128,000 and one charge of mortgage fraud. She has been released on bail.