Van 'bought with accused's card'

Feb 14 2013

A van was bought in the name of a man accused of murdering missing businesswoman Lynda Spence two days after she was allegedly abducted, a court has heard.

A credit card transaction showing the £3,750 purchase in the name of Philip Wade was shown to a witness at the High Court in Glasgow, where he is standing trial along with three other men.

Car salesman Archibald Simpson said the vehicle was bought at his dealership in Bo'ness, near Falkirk, on April 16, 2011.

Ms Spence was allegedly abducted two days before in Glasgow. It is alleged she was then tortured for two weeks at a flat in West Kilbride, north Ayrshire, before being murdered.

Wade, 42, Colin Coats, 42, David Parker, 38, and Paul Smith, 47, deny the charges.

Wade's sister Gillian, 35, told the court that she and their brother Brian bought the van for the family's printing business. She said she did not know that it had been paid for using Wade's card.

"I assumed it was the company card that had paid for it," she said, adding that the family sometimes used their own cards for business purchases and were then refunded by the company.

Ms Wade said Wade and Coats were close friends and the pair had on occasion borrowed the company van.

In a statement given to police on February 16, 2012, which was read to court, the witness said: "I can only recollect Philip asking to borrow the van with Colin on one occasion.

"I can't remember the date but I think it was maybe April or thereabouts."