Missing woman Margaret Fleming seen with tape wound around her skin

A court has heard today how missing Inverkip woman Margaret Fleming was seen with tape on her skin while with her carers.

Cheryl Harrison, 54, from Irvine, Ayrshire, told prosecutor Iain McSporran QC that on two of these occasions Margaret had duct tape on her, while giving evidence at the trial of Edward Cairney, 77, and Avril Jones, 58.

They deny murdering Margaret when she was 19 at the home they shared at Seacroft, Main Road, Inverkip, between December 18, 1999 and January 5, 2000.

Mrs Harrison said: “Her hand was going blue. I said what's wrong with her. Eddie Cairney pulled her sleeve back and there was like duct tape on her wrist. It was her skin going blue. The tape was right round her wrist.

“Eddie said to Avril get that off her in a really stern voice and Avril pulled the tape off.”

The witness was asked how Margaret was and answered: “She looked quite frightened and she was shaking.”

Mrs Harrison said on a later visit to the house she saw Margaret with duct tape on her face.

The court heard that she and her husband John became friendly with Cairney and Jones after meeting him at disused dump where her husband was collecting bricks.

She said when she asked about this she was told it was to stop Margaret scratching herself and then told it was none of her business.

Earlier, a police officer told the court that Ms Fleming was called "backwards and doolalli" by Avril Jones.

Scott Campbell, who is now a physiotherapist, was one of a number of policer officers who went to Seacroft on October 28, 2016, after social worker Veronica Bennett raised concerns about Margaret's welfare.

He said that he searched the shore area at the back of the house by torchlight and found no sign of Margaret.

The High Court in Glasgow has heard the accused claim that Margaret and Cairney had been out for a walk to Wemyss Bay where she bought a Mars bar in a newsagents.

They claim that when she saw police officers and flashing blue lights at the house she ran away.

Mr Campbell said that he spoke to Cairney and Jones in the living room.

He said that he asked for a description of Margaret and added: “Avril Jones said Margaret was backwards and doolalli.”

Sergeant Christopher McKay was asked by Mr McSporran if Jones had said anything to him about a social worker and he replied: “She said the social worker had ruined her life.”

Mr McSporran asked: “What social worker was she talking about,” and the witness replied: “I believe it to be Miss Bennett.”

Sgt McKay told the court that he believed that Margaret had not been at the house that night.

In fact he told the jury that he apologised first to Cairney and Jones and then asked: “Does Margaret Fleming exist”

Sgt McKay added: “I was told 'of course.'

"It was Avril Jones that said that.

"Mr Cairney was becoming agitated and said something along the lines of 'I can't f***ing believe this.'”

Another police officer Sergeant Richard Moffat, who also spoke to the accused, was asked if they appeared concerned about Margaret and replied: “No, not at all.”

He added: “Mr Cairney said she had previously been missing one time. He said he went to London to look for her and found her in a hotel in the Lake District..”

The police officer told the jury that Cairney gave no indication of when this happened.

Cairney and Jones deny murdering Margaret by means unknown. They also deny claiming £182,000 in benefits fraud by pretending she was alive.

The trial before Lord Matthews continues.