A woman accused of setting fire to a caravan and committing fraud in an alleged bid to secure an insurance payout for is to stand trial in front of a jury next year.
Catherine Dockray McCreadie, 59, faced four charges when she appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this morning.
Two of these charges allege arson by destroying by fire a caravan belonging to her — one by allegedly being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and a second with intent to endanger life.
Both arise out of an incident on September 14 2020.
A third charge alleges fraud by making a false representation on October 5 2020 — namely that the fire which destroyed the caravan was caused by someone else and was untrue or misleading to make a gain for herself. The alleged gain is said to have been an insurance payment for replacement of the caravan.
And a fourth charge alleges that McCreadie, on October 9 that year, did an act tending or intended to pervert the course of public justice by giving a false statement to police investigating the fire at Inglenook park, near Lamplugh.
During a 10-minute hearing in front of Judge Richard Archer, McCreadie pleaded not guilty to each of the four charges as they were read by a court clerk.
Her case was listed for trial. This is due to start in the week of March 6, 2023 and, it is estimated, will last around four days.
In the meantime McCreadie, of Esk Avenue, Whitehaven, was granted unconditional bail. She was also reminded by the judge to co-operate with the preparation by her legal team of a statement setting out, in writing, any matters on which she relies.
