Man stole £5,500 from his employers through fake cashback transactions

By Cara Sulieman

A MAN who embezzled more than £5,000 from the shop he was in left in charge of by faking cashback transactions has escaped jail.

Richard Humphries, 32, put £50 cashback through the company’s system on credit card payments then pocketed the cash to feed his gambling addiction.

He managed to steal £5,500 before being caught by an auditor who became suspicious of the assistant manager.

Today at Edinburgh Sheriff Court Humphries was sentenced to 160 hours community service after previously pleading guilty to the thefts between August 10, 2009 and May 12 this year.

Man appears in court over alleged attempted rape

By Paul Thornton

A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded over the alleged attempted rape of a 16-year-old girl.

Kevin Mathers, 22, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Mon) over an alleged sexual attack on a girl at the Crewe Toll area of the city on Wednesday (June 30).

Mathers, from the Leith area of Edinburgh, also appeared on two charges of sexually aggravated breach of the peace.

During a brief appearance from custody on petition before Sheriff Frank Crowe he made no plea and no declaration and bail was refused.

Rival beggars battle to sit outside busy theatre

By Michael MacLeod

A BEGGAR was arrested for clashing with a fellow tramp over a turf-war for a plum begging spot.

Gary Patience, and Colin McLeod clashed over the patch in front of Edinburgh’s Playhouse theatre.

The spat turned nasty when Mr McLeod set his dog on 51 year-old Patience.

Police had to be called when Patience retaliated by arguing with his rival while holding a baseball bat.

Patience today (Wednesday) admitted he had a weapon because he wanted to “settle the row”.