THREE women are facing trial, accused of conspiracy to defraud after an investigation into overtime payments by a defence contracts company.

Mary Ann Rainbow, 52, Trina-Daneze Howard, 31, and Helen Louise Powell, 28, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday.

They were sent to York Crown Court, where they will make an initial appearance on Friday next week.

Ms Howard, of Ashbank Road, Ripon, faces two conspiracy charges said to date from earlier this year, and one of stealing £4,100 from Sodexho Defence Services at Ripon, between November 1999 and November this year.

Ms Powell, also of Ashbank Road, and Ms Rainbow, of Moorside Dale, both Ripon, are each accused of one conspiracy offence alleged to have occurred this year.

All are said to have happened in Ripon.