Fears that pensioner’s body may have lain for weeks

By Cara Sulieman

POLICE were last night carrying out a post mortem to try and establish how a pensioner died – amid fears his body could have been left lying in his council home for weeks.

The body of William Lynn, 70, was finally found by officers who entered his house in the Clermiston area of Edinburgh after being tipped off by worried council workers.

They couldn’t get in touch with him over months of unpaid rent and called in officers to investigate.

Lothian and Borders Police would last night say only that the circumstances surrounding his death remained “unexplained”.

Fraser Suites opens ‘Landmark’ hotel on historic Edinburgh site

by SHAUN MILNE

THE historic site of what was once the former ‘Fleet Street of Scotland’ will be relaunched tonight as a multi-million pound luxury hotel.

Fraser Suites have taken over a restored Grade B Listed Building, which was once home to the Edinburgh Courant offices in the 19th Century.

As one of the UK’s first regional newspapers its editors included such well known names as Robinson Crusoe author Daniel Defoe.

LANDMARK: Fraser Suites Edinburgh

The street near the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, also housed a number of national newspapers, making it Scotland’s press headquarters of the day.

It also marks a ‘homecoming’ for Frasers, whose pioneering Scots founders, John Fraser and David Chalmers Neave, ventured to Singapore to found Fraser & Neave Limited in 1883 – the Singapore-based conglomerate which now owns Frasers Hospitality.

Ten years for Alastair Thomson over jewellery boss attack

by RORY REYNOLDS

A MAN who tried to kill a jeweller after robbing him on the way to his shop has been jailed for 10 years.

Alastair Thomson attacked Gareth Steven with a hammer and a knife as he walked to his shop in Prestwick, Ayrshire.

Gareth, 30, was scarred for life in the attack which left him dying in a pool of blood in the street.

A passer-by previously told the High Court how she helped save his life after she found Gareth pleading for help after the savage attack in November 2007.

Student ear bite victim refuses to judge his attacker

by Oliver Farrimond

A STUDENT who had his ear bitten off in a nightclub brawl says he has forgiven his attacker.

Disfigured Steve Meloni, 21, lost a chunk of his ear outside The Hive nightclub in Edinburgh after trying to break up a fight.

His attacker, 19-year-old Rory Clark, admitted the assault at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, adding that he was too drunk to remember the incident.

Torn

Mr Meloni, who is studying languages, tourism and marketing at Edinburgh Napier University, now faces a lengthy spell of reconstructive surgery to repair his torn earlobe.

He said: “It was a really, really foolish thing to do but I’ve not heard his side of things.

“I’m obviously very annoyed with him, but people can’t control their alcohol – it’s a common problem.

“However it’s not for me to judge him in the end, and if he’s pleaded guilty, then that’s a good thing.”

Combat Chef Stevie Allan whips up morale in Helmand

by Shaun Milne

IT WAS Napoleon who famously said that an army marches on its stomach – and that’s certainly proving the case for Scots troops out in Afghanistan.

Soldiers based with 1 Scots in Helmand Province have been celebrating after the arrival of their own ‘Combat Cook’ Lance Corporal Stevie Allan.

The 23 year old Fifer – who has just deployed to Forward Operating Base Wishtan in Helmand Province – is a former Scottish junior chef of the year.

MIXING IT: Combat Chef Stevie Allan

And they are now lapping up his award winning grub including his trademark ‘Jock Pasties – filled with ham, beans and cheese.

Deployed

Just hours after jumping off a helicopter into his field kitchen, Stevie said: “I’m delighted to be back with the lads. I cooked for B Company throughout our training in Kenya before we deployed, and then back in the UK.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of friends. It goes beyond that though – the lads mean everything to me, they are my second family.”

L/Cpl Allan, from Kirkcaldy, is with the Royal Logistic Corps, has even been equipped with a brand new winter cookhouse from which to work.

The new kitchen has been named ‘The Jordan Rossi Cookhouse’ after Sapper Jordan Rossi, who was tragically killed by an explosion while on patrol nearby in May 2009.

Thieves on the run with 10mph industrial steam roller

by Rory Reynolds

POLICE are hunting thieves after a STEAM ROLLER was stolen from a work site.

Officers believe that the vehicle which can only travel at 10mph may have been loaded onto the back of a truck on Monday night.

The incident occurred at a work site in Blackridge, near Bathgate, West Lothian.

The vehicle which is worth £10,500 – is believed to have been stolen under the cover of darkness.

Inspector David Wilson from Lothian and Borders Road Policing department said that the theft ties in with a number of incidents currently being investigated.

Heavier

He said: “The vehicle is roughly the same dimensions as a regular car but much heavier, and it’s possible that it had to be taken away on a road truck.

“We did have a truck stolen recently that would be of similar capabilities.

“We are currently engaged in Operation Crassus, which is focused on tracking the movement of stolen plant equipment.”

He added: “The public are encouraged to report any sightings of plant vehicles moving after daylight hours or any suspicious activity to police.”

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Newspaper Round-Up Wednesday 18th November