A PENSIONER found dead in her sheltered housing bungalow had been strangled, it was claimed today. The body of the 74-year-old, named locally as Rosie Sutherland, was discovered on Sunday afternoon. It is reported that a relative found the body of the woman, who lived alone at the property in Longstone, Edinburgh, with her cat. [...]
POLICE have issued householders in a Scottish city with posters discouraging “trick or treaters”. The signs, which read “Sorry, no guisers. Thank you, have a lovely evening” were handed out by Lothian and Borders police ahead of Hallowe’en. Police say the posters are designed to protect residents, particularly the elderly, against pranks. Acting inspector [...]
JURORS were today shown pictures of injuries to an infant alleged to have been caused by putting her arms in a freezer. The images showed marks on various parts of the body of the four-year-old girl, allegedly caused by Stuart Kitt. The 33-year-old went on trial today at Edinburgh Sheriff Court accused of permanently disfiguring [...]
TRAINS will be wrapped in plastic and given power showers this winter to avoid snow chaos. Rail bosses have spent £2 million on the scheme to ensure services keep running. They also pledged to keep travellers better informed by providing a free text message system, and to improve access to stations. ScotRail is to hold [...]
A THAI student who allowed his upmarket flat in one of the most genteel areas of Edinburgh to be used as a brothel was sentenced to nine months in prison today. Tanasak Sopatai, 27, who travelled to theUKon a student visa, bought the flat for Thai women who used it as a brothel, the court [...]
CIGARETTES have been blamed for two fatal fires within 48 hours, prompting a renewed warning about smoking at home. Both victims died in late-night blazes at home and cigarettes have emerged as the most likely cause of the tragedies. On Saturday night, a woman was found dead in her flat in Mid Calder, West Lothian, [...]
A MAN who neglected his dog has been banned from keeping animals for life and fined £365. Nicholas Cruikshank, 22, then residing at Murrayburn Gardens, Edinburgh, was convicted of causing his whippet crossbreed, Mia, unnecessary suffering atEdinburgh Sheriff Courton Thursday (27 October) by failing to seek veterinary treatment for her skin condition and provide an [...]
AN ELDERLY woman is in a serious condition in hospital after being hit by a car in Edinburgh. The 85-year-old was crossing the road on Oxgangs Farm Drive at around 1pm today (fri) when she was hit by a blue Kia Picanto. She was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where her condition is [...]
TAYSIDE Police are giving the public the chance to name their newest recruit. Five German Shepherd puppies – two boys and three girls – were born last week as part of a police breeding programme. Force dog handler Constable Steve Ritchie is due to select one of the dogs to join their father Amstel on [...]
By Niamh Anderson Shoppers will receive an early Christmas present this December when fashion retailer Primark opens its Scottish flagship store in the capital. Fans of the affordable chain have been eagerly anticipating the opening which will happen on December 10- in plenty of time for the Christmas rush. The building, on 91-93 Princes [...]
By Niamh Anderson DEMON cake maker Gillian Bell has unveiled her latest, stomach-churning creation – Pumpkinstein. Inspired by Frankenstein and Silence of the Lambs, the satanic sponge was crafted from fondant icing, food dye and piping jelly. Gillian hit the headlines earlier this year when her amazing range of Hannibal Lecter-inspired cakes was unveiled. They [...]
By Hannah Ewan SCOTTISH police pay has soared by £40m in the past three years, despite officer numbers increasing by just 160. It means taxpayers have shelled out £250,000 for every extra police officer taken on since 2008. New figures show the total wage bill for Scottish police is £713m – giving an average [...]
THE FAMILY of a man who died abroad on holiday have said they have become frustrated with the Spanish police’s probe into his death. Chris Lindsay, from Edinburgh was found with severe injuries after he vanished while on holiday in the Costa del Sol. His family have now been informed the 34-year-old told hospital staff [...]
CENTRAL SCOTLAND POLICE OFFICERS are asking for help in tracing whoever was responsible for damaging the car of an elderly resident in Stenhousmuir. The green VW Golf, which belongs to an 80-year-old man, was parked in a secure garage in the area’s Rae Street, but some time between 8:15pm on Wednesday October 19 and 6:00pm [...]
KEEPERS at Edinburgh Zoo have prepared the perfect Halloween-themed enrichment for sun bear brothers Somnang and Rotana. From bear-friendly pumpkins, to spooky coconuts bats, the bears will have plenty of treats in store this Halloween. Senior carnivore keeper Sharon Hatton explained why enrichment is so important for these young brothers. She said: “These bears are [...]
By Niamh Anderson NEAR-death experiences are caused by the chemistry of the brain rather than paranormal activity, Scots researchers have claimed. Phenomenon such as bright lights, meeting the dead and “crossing over” have been experienced by as many as 3% of the UK population. But a study by Edinburgh and Cambridge Universities has concluded [...]
NOEL Gallagher’s PR team banned a Scottish journalist from a gig after he wrote a critical review of the former Oasis frontman’s latest album. Gallagher played atEdinburgh’s Usher Hall on Thursday night, but the music journalist for the city’s evening newspaper was shut out. Gary Flockhart had branded the musician’s High Flying Birds a “letdown” [...]
TWO house martin chicks which were abandoned by their parents have been successfully reared by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff at St Cyrus national nature reserve. The two chicks were left behind by their exhausted parents at the end of September. They were handed into the reserve office by walkers who found them on the [...]
A WOMAN whose dog was so hungry it died when it finally ate has been banned from owning animals for two years and fined £250. Kirsty Ann McEvoy, of Murrayburn Gardens, Edinburgh, was convicted of causing her male Staffordshire bull terrier cross unnecessary suffering at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday (27 October) by failing to [...]
A MAN who died after a cigarette sparked a flat fire in Edinburgh this morning has been named as Grant Sutherland. The 41-year-old, who was named by locals, perished in the fire in the city’s Niddrie Mill Drive, despite a smoke alarm being activated. A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said the [...]