Prosecutors are seeking to recover more than £1.5 million from an architect who embezzled hundreds of thousands of pounds from a charity.

Ian Brash, 66, stole more than £350,000 from the Dr Robert Malcolm Trust, which provides financial help to medical students and doctors.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that Brash had been a trustee of the charity for more than 15 years before he began pocketing money from the organisation's bank account.

The pensioner used the cash to buy himself an Alfa Romeo and two new Land Rovers and gave his children tens of thousands of pounds for deposits for buy to let properties.

He also bought a wind turbine and paid off large vet bills.

Brash pleaded guilty to embezzling £358,832 from the charity between August 12 2010 and September 10 2014 from the charity before Sheriff Frank Crowe in August 2018.

Sheriff Crowe heard that Brash is trying to sell his 15th century Fa'side Castle, near Tranent, East Lothian, to raise funds to pay back the stolen cash.

Now, it has emerged that Crown lawyers are seeking £1,590,512.69 from Brash using proceeds of crime legislation.

The revelation became known after a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.

Sheriff Frank Crowe deferred sentence on Brash until next month after hearing his lawyer say the retired architect is "anxious" to repay the charity.