A MAN accused of murdering a missing woman claimed he last saw her after lifting her money from a bank machine.

George Metcalff, 71, allegedly killed Paisley woman Patricia Henry, known as Patti, at a flat in Girvan, on November 17, 2017.

Prosecutors claim Metcalff attacked the 46-year-old mum by “means unknown”.

Metcalff is also charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice between the day of the alleged murder and February 22, 2018.

This lists an accusation that he did “conceal and dispose” of Patricia’s body again by unknown means.

The indictment features a number of other charges including the rape of Patricia and a further three women.

The court heard from Metcalff's daughter Marianne Gallagher, 49, who told jurors that her dad lived below Patti for "quite a few years" before she moved to Spain.

The witness stated Patti moved back to the area before staying with Metcalff for two or three months as her windows were damaged.

She claimed that Patti was then helped by Metcalff to get a flat in Girvan in 2017.

Miss Gallagher claimed Metcalff would go down "a couple of times a week" to see Patti.

Miss Gallaher stated that she first became aware that Patti was missing due to a police inquiry in February or March 2018.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC asked: "From the period of November 2017 and March 2018, were you aware that Patti was missing?"

She replied: "No."

Jurors were told Metcalff was quizzed during the investigation into the hunt for the missing Patti.

Miss Gallagher said that she asked her dad when the last time he saw Patti was.

She stated: "He said he was asked to take money out of her bank and that was about it.

"They had a couple of drinks and went back to his house."

Miss Gallagher claimed that she was aware Metcalff had hired a van to help Patti take furniture to her new home.

She denied a suggestion from Iain McSporran QC, defending, that the van was to be used for collecting a cooker.

Mr McSporran later enquired as to whether Metcallf and Patti were "friends or more than friends."

The witness replied: "Friends."

A 56-year-old woman, who prosecutors state was allegedly assaulted by Metcalff, denied that he was violent towards her.

She claimed that he brushed past her while drunk and she fell which resulted in a black eye.

The woman stated that she was aware Metcalff had helped Patti get a property in Girvan and later told police in a statement there were problems about her rent being paid.

She claimed she was told that Patti's daughter put a note through Metcalff's door asking to check on her mother when she was first reported missing.

The statement added: "I think [Metcalff] got a spare key from the landlord to go in.

"He said he went back in and saw the flat empty."

The woman claimed Patti's cats were also found inside the property.

The woman stated that she contacted police after seeing a statement on Facebook about a possible white "second van."

She initally told jurors that she had asked Metcalff about it and was told that it was for transporting a matress to Patti's new house.

The woman's police statement from July 2019 revealed that Metcalff hadn't mentioned the mattress.

The statement read: "I asked [Metcalff] about the van after the appeal from the police.

"He told me he hadn't told them about the van as he forgot or didn't think it would be relevant."

Patti’s mum Anne Henry told jurors that she last saw her daughter when she was at Metcalff’s home in August 2017.

She claimed she was passing when Patti tapped the window for her to come up.

Miss Henry said: “I couldn’t really speak because Mr Metcalff stood at the door like a sentry saying nothing.

“She was very distressed, she could barley lift her head and was crying continuously.

“I said ‘what are you doing here you have a home of your own with your family’.

“I had no privacy to discuss anything, I only waited a short while and then left.”

Miss Henry said Patti looked “worn” and “broken.”

Mr Prentice asked if she ever saw or heard from Patti again and she replied “No.”

The witness added: “I spoke to her on the phone several times but I never saw her again.”

Miss Henry said contact stopped after Patti moved to Girvan.

She claimed that she never received nothing on her 70th birthday in January 2018 or contact her daughter on her 18th birthday.

Miss Henry said that it was “unlike her.”

She later described Metcalff as a “force that took over, not a good force.”

Mr McSporran said: “If we hear from others that he was helping her financially and getting messages for her.”

Miss Henry replied: “The word is control.”

The trial continues tomorrow before judge Lord Armstrong.