A Metropolitan Police forensic scientist is to stand trial accused of misconduct in a public office.

Ursula Collins, from Mitcham, south London, is accused of eight offences, which are alleged to have taken place between 2009 and 2018.

The 41-year-old was charged following an investigation into the suspected mishandling of evidence within the Metropolitan Police’s forensic laboratory.

The charges allege that Collins “wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder by failing to create and store exhibits in accordance with required procedure, failing to request DNA analysis of a sample, misleading the officer in charge of the investigation in relation to the sample being submitted and causing an undue delay”.

Collins appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday for a pre-trial hearing.

A trial has been fixed for November 8 and is expected to last eight days.

Collins was granted unconditional bail.