Drug addict steals from own mother to fund habit

A DESPERATE drug addict who stole from his own mother in order to fund his habit apologised to police when they caught him.

Colin Brown, 31, went round to his mum Patricia Brown’s home in the Duddingston area of Edinburgh three days in a row and stole jewellery, a games console and games which he sold on for a total of £368.50.

The court heard that Brown started taking heroin in February and sold the items on at Cash Generator to fund his habit.

Today at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, he pled guilty to four counts of theft between September 29 and October 1 this year.

Rugby player Max Evans appears in court

SCOTLAND rugby player Max Evans has made a second court appearance over allegations that he glassed a clubber in the face.

The 27-year-old appeared on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today charged with striking Alisdair McCaig in the face with a glass to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

The alleged assault took place at swish Lulu Nightclub on George Street in the early hours of August 1 this year.

The Glasgow Warriors player made no plea nor declaration when he appeared in front of Sheriff Shelagh McCall and was committed for further examination.

Evans was released on bail with the conditions that he doesn’t approach Mr McCaig and that he stays out of Lulu Nightclub in Edinburgh.

The centre is expected to start in Scotland’s first game of the autumn season against the All Blacks on November 13.

REPORT: Cara Sulieman

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.

Kiltmaking industry at risk as skills “die off”

Handmade kilts may soon be a thing of the past

By Cara Sulieman

THE FUTURE of Scotland’s national dress is under threat as the number of authentic kiltmakers has dramatically dropped.

Only 10 “proper” kiltmakers remain in the country, with few apprentices training to learn the craft.

Industry experts worry that the art will die out completely, leaving the cheap mass production companies as the only suppliers of the dress.

The crisis comes as kilts and tartan are experiencing a boom in popularity thanks to celebrity backing from the likes of Alan Cumming, P Diddy and Madonna.

Family and colleagues pay tribute to “charismatic” cyclist killed in accident

Dr Kostas Tourlas

By Cara Sulieman

SHOCKED colleagues of a cyclist who was killed in a tragic road accident at the weekend paid tribute to a “charismatic” and “popular” man today.

Dr Kostas Tourlas died in the collision with a Fiat Ulysse near Kirkliston Sports Centre on Saturday.

Workmates of the 37-year-old spoke of their “shock and disbelief” at his death.

Dr Tourlas had worked at London-based software consultancy firm Adelard since 2003 and moved to the capital about a year ago.

Podgy pooch skips Christmas dinner in bid to slim down

Linda Smith with her podgy pooch Tara

By Cara Sulieman

CHRISTMAS is a time for gluttony as the diets are pushed aside in favour of the traditional festive feast.

But for one podgy pooch this year will be different.

Two-year-old Tara has been put on a strict diet when her owner found out she was DOUBLE the size she should have been.

So instead of tucking in to the Christmas dinner her owner, Linda Smith, used to treat her to, she will have to satisfy herself with a doggy chew.

The chubby canine, from Livingston, tipped the scales at a whopping 6st 8lb (42kg) when she started her diet – which is 66 per cent more than she should be.

Inquiry date set for tragic cancer teen

Liz and Ken Norris outside the Health Practitioners hearing in October

By Cara Sulieman

A FATAL Accident Inquiry into the death of a teenage cancer sufferer blasted with 19 massive overdoses of radiation while being treated for a brain tumour will be held in the New Year.

Lisa Norris, 16, from Girvan, Ayrshire received 58 per cent more radiation than she should have, leaving her with burns to her neck, head and unable to continue the life-saving course.

The Procurator Fiscal has ruled that an inquiry into her death is scheduled to take place on March 8 2010 at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

The news comes just two months after the man who oversaw her treatment, Dr Stuart McNee was allowed to keep working, despite being responsible for mistakes on Lisa’s treatment plan.

But despite all misconduct charges being proven against him, the Health Professions Council ruled he could continue working.

Parents slam decision as travesty as Cancer doctor blamed for Lisa Norris radiation bungle allowed to keep working

Ken and Liz Norris leaving the hearing

By Cara Sulieman

THE parents of a tragic teenage cancer sufferer who was blasted with 19 massive overdoses of radiation while being treated for a brain tumour has described a decision to allow the doctor responsible to keep working as a “travesty” and vowed to sue health chiefs.

Dr Stuart McNee bungled treatment plans which saw tragic Lisa Norris, 16, from Girvan, Ayrshire, receive 58 per cent more radiation than she should have, leaving her with burns to her neck, head and unable to continue the life-saving course.

But despite all misconduct charges being proven against him, the Health Professions Council ruled he could continue working.

Her parents described it as a “travesty” and attacked his decision to stay away from the hearing rather than face them.

Delivering their controversial decision, the panel’s chairman Colin Allies said that while all allegations of a lack of competence had been proven, it was their opinion that Dr McNee was still fit to practice.

He said: “We are confident the Registrant has learned from his mistakes and would act differently in similar circumstances today.

“We took into consideration the lack of staff and a lack of support from senior management.

“The Registrant’s fitness to practice is no impaired therefore the allegation is not well founded.”

But Lisa’s anguished parents Ken, 53, and Liz, 52, who attended today’s (fri) Conduct and Competence hearing, slammed the decision.

And they vowed to sue the health board responsible branding the decision a “whitewash”.

Fifteen year old arrested over North Berwick rape

By Cara Sulieman

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested by police in connection with the alleged rape of a young woman in a popular Scots seaside town.

Detectives detained and charged the suspect yesterday – a little more than a week after the sickening attack took place.

He has also been charged with an earlier serious sexual assault in the town on Sunday, July 19.

The youth is expected to appear at Haddington Sheriff Court today.

Shocked onlookers dial 999 as yobs attack “whale”

By Cara Sulieman

SHOCKED onlookers called out the coastguard when they saw a crowd of yobs beating what looked like a whale that had been washed up on to the beach.

Worried that the six savages were going to kill the animal, people in East Lothian dialled 999 to get help for the beast.

But when the coastguard arrived they soon realised it was a false alarm.

Instead of a stranded whale, the group had surrounded a wave generator that they were experimenting with.