Man denies chasing and punching Celtic star Scott Brown

By Michael MacLeod

A MAN has appeared in court charged with attacking Celtic midfielder Scott Brown.

Mark Richardson, 22, is said to have chased after the 24 year-old in Edinburgh on Saturday and punched him “repeatedly” on the head.

Mr Richardson, of Edinburgh, appeared from custody at the capital’s Sheriff Court today (Mon) and denied beach of the peace and assault charges.

He also denied that he had breached a bail condition imposed on October 19.

The Scotland football international is said to have been chased and hit in the city’s Grindlay Street.

Chainsaw “attack” on neighbour was a drunken accident

By Michael MacLeod

A MAN has been cleared of attacking his neighbour with a chainsaw after the victim confessed it was an accident.

Acquitted: James Weir walks free from court

James Weir, 42, was said to have started up a chainsaw and sliced open ex-postman Alan Flockhart’s arm.

But assault charges against him were dropped during the first day of a trial today (Mon) when Flockhart, 37, admitted he lied to police to try and protect his neighbour from being arrested.

Instead, detectives saw through Flockhart’s lies and charged him with wasting police time.

Mr Weir always denied the three charges of assault, brandishing a chainsaw and lying to police.

Flockhart told Edinburgh Sheriff Court of how the pair had drank “a whole bottle of Sambuca each” before going back to his Edinburgh flat on August 30 last year.

Family demand inquiry into son’s suspicious death in Spain

By Oliver Farrimond and Rory Reynolds

THE FAMILY of a Scot killed in Spain are demanding an inquiry into his death after it has emerged he may have been attacked and robbed before he died.

Thomas Patterson, 21, was hit by a car while crossing a dual carriageway at Playa Flamenca, near Alicante, in July of this year.

Police cleared the single driver of any wrong-doing,.

But his 52-year-old mum Agnes has spoken out, saying that the Spanish police “wrote off” her son, the father of an 18-month-old boy, as a “drunken lout”.

Her calls for justice come as one of Scotland’s most senior judges has recommended that Fatal Accident Inquiries (FAIs) be held for Scots who are killed abroad.

Fears that man crushed by forklift may have had heart attack

By Andrea McCallum

A MAN who was crushed by a forklift in East Lothian on Friday is feared to have had a heart attack just moments before the tragic accident.

George Thompson, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics who rushed to Greendykes Farm, MacMerry, on Friday morning.

And now his grief-stricken brother John has spoken of his devastation following the death of his younger brother.

John Thompson, 67, said: “George was always careful, and was always scared something would happen.

“I don’t think the machine trapped him, as it can’t have been going more than five miles per hour.

Scottish paranormal group plan to mark spot of historic UFO sighting

By Oliver Farrimond

SCOTTISH experts in the paranormal have launched a campaign to properly mark one of the most significant sightings in UFO history.

A small, crumbling cairn is all that marks the spot of the sighting at Dechmont, in Livingston, where 30 years ago today forester Bob Taylor claimed to have been assaulted by mysterious forces.

Mr Taylor, who died in 2007 aged 88, claimed to have been walking his dog in Dechmont on 9 November 1979, when he encountered a large sphere in a forest clearing.

The sphere, 20ft across, produced two smaller spheres with protruding metal spikes, which rolled towards him and attached themselves to his legs.

Mr Taylor woke up 20 minutes later with slight injuries, with police later saying that they were “baffled” by the incident.

Scots girl’s 4ft hair to get the chop for charity

By Rory Reynolds

A 16-year-old Scots girl has accepted a hair-raising challenge for charity – to lose the metre of mane that she’s been growing for more than a decade.

Francesca Dawson is preparing herself for the chop after growing her fairytale-like blonde barnet since she was just five.

And even though she’s had years of strange stares and nightmare tangles, the Edinburgh teen reckons she’s still nervous about losing it all for a sensible bob.

Francesca said: “I’m scared because in a way my hair has become my identity.

“But at the same time I’m excited because it will be nice for people to see through my mass of hair for once.

Highland Park’s £3750 whisky to hit the shops

By Rory Reynolds

THE world’s most northerly single malt distillery is to launch a 45-year-old whisky – which will cost a staggering £3750.

Just 290 bottles of vintage Highland Park – which are usually sold at auction – are to be released for retail.

The new release is the oldest of Highland Park’s Vintage releases dating back to 1964, and is to be accompanied by a full strength 40-year-old version, which will cost £2250.

Jason Craig of Highland Park said that after an “obsession” with the aging process, the whisky is ready for fans to enjoy.

He said: “We have worked tirelessly to take the Vintages from the initial concept to reality and we are exceptionally pleased with the end result.

Dozy owl rescued after falling into chimney

By Rory Reynolds

A DOZY owl got itself into a flap after toppling over and plunging headfirst into a chimney.

The adult tawny owl had to be rescued by an officer from the SSPCA at the bottom of a chimney after becoming stuck at a shocked resident’s house in Kilsyth, Lanarkshire.

The dazed bird, who was covered in soot, was taken to the Wildlife Rescue Centre near Dunfermline in Fife to be cleaned up and looked after.

After having a rest, the owl was checked by staff to make sure it could fly properly, before being released near to where it was found.

Centre Manager Colin Seddon said: “When the owl arrived he was extremely dirty and his eyes were very red and sore from the soot, but other than that he was uninjured.

Police hunt hit and run biker after 9-year-old knocked down

By Rory Reynolds

POLICE are hunting for a hit and run biker after he struck a nine-year-old boy and sped off without stopping.

The boy was taken to the Sick Kids’ Hospital in Edinburgh to be treated for injuries to his arm and hip after being hit on Sunday afternoon at around 5.40pm.

He had been walking down Captain’s Road in the Liberton area of the city with friends when he stepped into the path of the red motorbike and was hit.

The biker then fled the scene without waiting for police to arrive.

The motorcyclist is described as white, male, around 5ft10ins tall, 30-35 years of age with a stubbly complexion.

Sir Jackie Stewart offers hope to prisoners with Kenny MacAskill

By Oliver Farrimond

MOTOR racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart offered hope to Scottish prisoners yesterday after visiting Saughton Prison in Edinburgh with Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

Accompanied by son Paul, Sir Jackie was promoting dyslexia courses for prisoners, which he says will put them in pole position to turn the corner once outside.

70-year-old Sir Jackie is one of the most high-profile figures in the UK to suffer from dyslexia, and has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition.

Famously, he has said that his dyslexia was so bad that it left him unable to fill in a drivers’ license form.

The three-times Formula One World Championship winner said: “Our trip to prison was very interesting.”

“I had received two letters from prisoners in there who were concerned about their lack of ability to read and write correctly.

“They were also worried that the education they were getting to help them with that was going to be stopped.