By ALEXANDER LAWRIE A SCOTS oil worker kidnapped in Nigeria has returned home to his family. Alan Preston, 50, from Pilton, Edinburgh, was last night recovering at home still traumatised from his ordeal in the African country. Friends said that he was “still very distressed” by his abduction which started with a shoot-out that left [...]
by CARA SULIEMAN SCOTLAND’S courts service is paying out around £100,000 a year bringing witnesses to court from outside Scotland. In the last five years, £448,166.53 was spent on bringing witnesses to Scotland from the rest of the UK and overseas. Last year was the highest with a whopping £105,621.34 paid out by the [...]
By MICHAEL MACLEOD DOPEY drug dealers who stole plant pots to grow marijuana were collared after neighbours phoned cops to report the garden thefts. The tip off about disappearing plant pots was among 39 intelligence-based calls to police that led to 63 arrests in the past five days. Undercover detectives had been monitoring suspected drug [...]
by LAUREN CROOKS A WOMAN missing for almost a week after she disappeared after a Saturday night out with friends has turned up safe and well. A huge hunt was launched for Kirsty McManus, 21, a chef from Newtongrange, Midlothian, after she failed to arrive home or turn up for work. Lothian & Borders Police [...]
By PAUL THORNTON A FORMER soldier has told how his life was ruined when a paintball worker shot a gun at him, blinding him in one eye. Allan Weir, 25, said he lost his job and needs surgery to save his eye after Calvin Blyth shot a loaded paintball gun at his face. Blyth was [...]
By ALEXANDER LAWRIE A SCOTS granddad delivering humanitarian aid to some of the world’s poorest children was left star-struck – after bumping into Barack Obama’s granny. Charity worker James Harkins, 66, from Crossford, Fife, was in Kenya last month providing help to 40 poor orphans when he got the chance to stop and chat with [...]
By MICHAEL MacLEOD & CARA SULIEMAN FEARS were growing last night for the safety of a young woman missing since a night out with friends on Saturday. Kirsty McManus, 21, from Newtongrange, Midlothian, hasn’t been seen since being with friends in bars around the popular Omni Centre in Edinburgh near the Playhouse Theatre. The last [...]
By Paul Thornton A TOP QC who sparked controversy by switching his political allegiance to the Tories last night branded a top Labour Peer “a joke”. Paul McBride QC, 44, withdrew his support of the Labour Party last week to join the Conservatives claiming that he had lost faith in their “incompetence”. Mr McBride – [...]
By ALEXANDER LAWRIE SCOTS rocker Shirley Manson is the latest victim of the recent outbreak of swine flu – after she had a tin of haggis confiscated by a US television show. The Edinburgh-born musician was appearing with fellow Scot Craig Ferguson on his late night chat show on Tuesday when she admitted the show’s [...]
by LAUREN CROOKS THE brother of singing sensation Susan Boyle is cashing in on her fame – with the launch of a new reality TV-style business. Gerard Boyle, 54, set up Business Academy’s Business in a Box to allow entrepreneurs to start their own company instantly. When wannabe business folk sign up to the scheme, [...]
By ALEXANDER LAWRIE A RARE collection of Scottish artwork including sought-after pieces by Peploe, Hunter and Vettriano sold for a staggering £3 million at auction yesterday. The 150 lots in the Scottish Picture Sale went under the hammer at Sotheby’s in London. The highest price paid at the sale was for the rare chance to [...]
By Cara Sulieman A GROUP of hero Scots soldiers just back from serving in Afghanistan helped save a man’s life aboard a ferry after he was left badly injured during a brawl at sea. They first helped break up a fight, administer life-saving treatment and then co-ordinated a ship to shore helicopter medi-vac of the [...]
By REPORTING TEAM: Cara Sulieman, Paul Thornton, Alexander Lawrie, Lauren Crooks and Oliver Farrimond BREAKING NEWS: A newlywed couple from Edinburgh have been quarantined at home over fears they have been infected by Swine Flu. Peter and Jennifer Marshall, from Gorgie, returned from their honeymoon in the area Cancun of Mexico last Tuesday (21st) and [...]
By ALEXANDER LAWRIE POLICE are hunting two racist thugs after they attacked a defenceless father-of-three as he walked home from work. Jahirul Islam, 37, from Edinburgh, suffered a broken nose, cuts and bruises and a damaged knee after the two attackers repeatedly smashed a boulder against him during the brutal assault. Mr Islam was set [...]
By Cara Sulieman A mischievous moggie was left stuck 60 feet up a tree for nine days until rescuers were finally able to reach it. Two-year-old Sammy went missing from his home in Fife almost two weeks ago before finally being spotted by his owner clinging onto a high branch in a small wood near [...]
by SHAUN MILNE BREAKING NEWS: BRITAIN was on full Swine Flu alert last night after health officials confirmed tests on two people being monitored for the virus in Scotland had come back positive. Seven others who had close contact with two patients being treated in Lanarkshire are also displaying symptons. Tests were underway last night [...]
By ALEXANDER LAWRIE A LAW aimed at cracking down on Scotland’s knife-crime culture could see sales of sgian dubhs slashed as well. Shops selling the traditional ceremonial knives have been warned to keep them to less than three and a half inches in length. Traders selling sgian dubhs have objected to the Scottish Government’s proposed [...]
By ALEXANDER LAWRIE A CHAMPIONSHIP winning pipe band is facing an unenviable dilemma – after being double booked to play in front of the Queen and make an appearance at the Brit Awards the same night. The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are in such demand they have been asked to play at the Windsor Castle [...]
By Lauren Crooks THE FAMILY of Britain’s Got Talent crooner Susan Boyle have hit back at claims the star is having a nervous breakdown. Mary Brady, 70, said rumours that the family are arguing over their sister’s career are “lies”. Susan is said to be desperate to let everyone hear her sing but will have [...]
By ALEXANDER LAWRIE CAR CRAZY boy racers are risking lives with a dangerous driving competition –using cash machine statements to time their speeds. The new craze is currently sweeping the nation as the young speed freaks continue to flout the law daily. Youths have created their own race circuit and been spotted speeding away from [...]