'˜Madam Moneybags' brothel-keeper seeks Legal Aid for appeal

An Edinburgh brothel-keeper, who was considered one of Scotland's richest criminals after details of her lavish lifestyle came to light, is seeking public money to help clear her name.

Margaret Paterson. Picture: Julie Bull

Margaret Paterson, who was dubbed Madam Moneybags after making a fortune through prostitution, is attempting to overturn the conviction which saw her jailed for five years.

The 65-year-old became infamous when details of her lavish lifestyle were exposed when she was arrested following a raid on the flat women worked from in Grosvenor Street.

The sex workers, who often numbered eight a night, were also sent out to meet clients at ‘out-calls’ in punters homes and hotel rooms, funded Paterson’s desire for cash and designer clothes and handbags.

The Edinburgh Evening News revealed last month that Paterson still owed more than three-quarters of a £1m confiscation order that was handed out to her in 2015.

Now, it has emerged that Paterson has sought the help of the Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission (SCCRC) to clear her name.

The Daily Record reported that the body, which examines cases for miscarriages of justice, refused to send the case to appeal judges, prompting a judicial review request from Paterson.

A delay agreed to at the Court of Session in Edinburgh yesterday will allow the madam to seek Legal Aid from the public purse to pay for her lawyers.