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By Andrea McCallum
A FIRST edition of a Harry Potter book is expected to conjure up thousands of pounds for an Edinburgh children’s charity.
The rare signed copy has been given to Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids appeal from the city council who had 30 stored in their secret chambers.
Best-selling author J.K. Rowling had given the copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to former Lord Provost Lesley after it was published in 2005.
A DOCTOR and his wife have been fined £5,000 for what a Sheriff described as “the most outrageous breach of the peace I have ever experienced” in his 20-year career.
Dr John McCallum and his wife Michele “ambushed” their neighbour Roslyn Kinder after hearing that she had tried to run over their kids in her SUV.
The Edinburgh doctor – who earns £100,000 a year – blocked Mrs Kinder from parking her car while his wife hounded her for an explanation.
But when CCTV of the incident was shown during a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Graeme Warner was left in no doubt.
He told the couple today (Friday): “In more than 20 years of being a Sheriff, I thought it was positively chilling to see on the CCTV.
“Had I been Mrs Kinder, I would have been scared out of my wits.”
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A CLEANER who was mistakenly paid £36,000 managed to spend £17,000 of it within just two days.
Catherine McLean, 39, didn’t question her boss when the bumper pay packet landed in her bank account on April 2.
By April 4 she had spent almost half of the cash clearing her debts, but was stopped in her tracks when her employer realised the blunder.
But when the Edinburgh woman said she could only give him back £19,000, he called police.
McLean, of the city’s Broomhouse Gardens appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Friday) charged with stealing £17,000 from an address in the nearby Broomhouse Crescent.
She admitted the charge and was given time to pay back the money.
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AN aspiring Marine has had his entry to the Forces suspended after being caught selling over £18,000 of stolen camping gear on eBay.
Andrew Pringle, 22, was working at Tiso and helping colleagues to pocket huge profits from goods they bought with their staff discount.
But when it dawned on him that some of the kit his workmates were getting him to sell was stolen, he turned a blind eye.
If jailed over the eBay swindle, Pringle will be banned from joining the Marines for seven years.
Sheriff Derick McIntyre today (Friday) gave him until Wednesday to stump up the cash to give him a chance of dodging jail, but warned: “I’m not making any promises.”
Tiso’s Commercial Street store in Edinburgh lost on out on £18, 269 of potential income from the goods, had they been sold at the recommended retail prices.
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By Oliver Farrimond
POLICE are searching for a heartless thief who robbed a charity shop.
The thief, described as having “thin, pale face”, fled after putting his hand in the tills of the Capability Scotland shop in Deanhaugh Street at around 4.30pm on Thursday afternoon.
A store assistant bravely tried to stop the thief, but was shoved aside as the man escaped through the rear exit with a handful of cash.
The suspect is described as white, mid 20’s, slim build with a thin pale face and short dark hair, and police are appealing for anyone who was in the area and witnessed anything suspicious to come forward.
A police spokesman said: “This was a despicable and opportunistic theft for what was a relatively small amount of money.
“We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the Raeburn Place or Deanhaugh Street area and has information that can assist us with our investigation.
“Similarly, anyone who recognises the description of the man and can help us to locate him should also come forward.”
The suspect was also wearing a grey hooded jogging top with black stripes down both arms.
Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.
See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel, Deadline TV.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
By Oliver Farrimond
A TROPHY from horse-racing history is to go up for auction next week in Edinburgh.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup from 1930 is expected to fetch £6,000 at Lyon and Turnbull auctioneers when it goes up for sale.
The trophy is still awarded today for the course, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious races in the sport.
It is also the richest, with almost half a million pounds awarded to last year’s winner.
The victorious horse – Easter Trophy – won the trophy two years running from 1929 with trainer John Whitney – including setting a new record in 1929 on the 3 mile, 2.5 furlong course.
And Whitney was so pleased with the horses’ performance that he invited the prized nag to enjoy a length retirement at his estate in Kentucky, USA, where he died at the ripe old age of 28.
The auction commences on December 1st.
See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel, Deadline TV.
