A DAUGHTER told her mum's murder trial that police didn't initially take on her missing person's inquiry until two months after the report.

Alana McGrory, 21, stated she made the claim about mum Patricia Henry, 46, in January 2018 - two months after she was last seen.

But, Miss McGrory alleged she was informed that they would not commence the inquiry due to Patricia previously overstaying a holiday to Gran Canaria.

George Metcalff, 72, is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow for allegedly killing Patricia at a flat in Girvan, Ayrshire, on November 17, 2017.

Prosecutors claim Metcalff attacked the Patricia, known as Patti, 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 Patti and a further three women.

The court heard from Miss McGrory who told jurors that she had known Metcalff from living above him with Patricia before moving out.

She stated that her mum moved to Girvan after having problems with her neighbours.

Miss McGrory claimed to have only visited Patricia once at her new property in October 2017 - the last time she saw her.

Jurors were shown a screenshot of a message sent between the pair also in October 2017.

Patricia sent: "Kenny tried to kill me last night…because I got him to decorate he lost the plot and strangled me for ages.

"I'm blowing him up now, my neck is f***ing killing me, the c***."

Miss McGrory claimed the last time she heard from her mum was when she was "hysterical" "crying like she hadn't before" down the phone.

Miss McGrory said further messages she sent to her went unread with her dad also unable to contact her.

The witness claimed to have visited Patricia's flat with a friend on November 15 and 16, 2017.

She stated that a garden gnome that was placed at the front door had moved by the time of the second visit.

Miss McGrory also claimed that the kitchen door of the property - which she saw through the letterbox - had also changed from open to closed.

Miss McGrory stated Metcalff told her he would take her to the property on an occasion but on the day he had already been.

It was later arranged that Miss McGrory's friend would travel with Metcalff to get Patricia's cats from the property.

Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC asked if Miss McGrory had heard from her mum at all during that time.

She replied: "No."

Mr Prentice followed up: "Did your concern increase?"

Miss McGrory responded: "Yes."

The witness claimed to have visited the property with Metcalff on another occasion in which she collected family photographs.

She stated she told Metcalff not to get rid of any of her mother's belongings but was later told by him that he had put them in a skip without her permission.

Miss McGrory claimed her mum failed to contact her or her gran on their 18th and 70th birthdays in January and February 2018.

She told jurors that this was "very out of character."

Iain McSporran QC, defending, asked if it came to a point where she reported her mother missing.

Miss McGrory replied: "My friend and I reported her missing on January 10, 2018."

It was revealed that officers didn't initially "take on" a missing persons inquiry.

Mr McSporran added: "The reason was there was a time she was in Gran Canaria and stayed away and there was a history."

Miss McGrory claimed that they were unsure whether she had gone there again.

Miss McGrory stated that a family member contacted police in March 2018 to report Patricia missing again.

Mr McSporran said: "Did they take this seriously?"

Miss McGrory replied: "Yes."

She agreed with Mr McSporran's suggestion when it was put to her that Patricia had not said Metcalff had done anything to her.

She also accepted that she would take things her mum said "with a pinch of salt" on occasion.

Jurors earlier heard from Patricia's neighbour in Girvan, Walter Douglas who claimed she went to his front door "hysterical" in November 2018.

The 27-year-old property developer said: "She was crying, asking me to use my phone to make an emergency call."

The witness claimed he never heard the contents of the call and it was the last time he ever saw her.

The trial continues before judge Lord Armstrong.