These four criminals are now behind bars in Scotland after appearing in court this week.

An ex-SNP chief, a former boxing promoter and a footsoldier of a notorious gangster’s rival were among the criminals jailed over a catalogue of crimes in Scotland this week.

They were locked up for a combination of more than 17 years for crimes including embezzlement, organised crime, fraud and the supply of drugs.

Here are the worst criminals jailed in Scotland this week.

Ex-SNP chief Peter Murrell

Disgraced Peter Murrell was jailed for five years and three months after he embezzled more than £400,000 of SNP funds.

The estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon was handed a custodial sentence on Tuesday after thieving from his own party when he was their chief executive. Conman Murrell, who was SNP CEO for over two decades, was put behind bars after pleading guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

Murrell’s theft was carried out over twelve years from 2010 to 2012. He used the stolen funds to buy luxury goods, cosmetics, cars and a motorhome.

Sentencing, Lord Young said: “Your actions involved a significant breach of trust to the organisation, which you led, and to the individual members and donors of that organisation. Because of your position of authority, you were able to circumvent the checks and balances that existed.

“The manner of the embezzlement, although not particularly sophisticated, included the fabrication of invoices, you gave false information to junior members of staff to input into the accounting system. All told, this is a calculated crime of dishonesty, and let me make it clear to you, one factor in the sentence which I impose today will be to act as a deterrent to any senior officials in other large organisations who might be tempted to abuse their position in the way that you did.”

Ex-boxing promoter

A former boxing promoter who was a trusted lieutenant in a gangland killer’s crime mob was jailed for six years earlier this week.

Mario Rea, 47, was a sidekick on the streets for Robert “Birdman” O’Hara, 48, while he was behind bars for the murder of a rival. It was found the dirty cash raked in from the major narcotics operation funded an illicit lifestyle for O’Hara’s partner and daughter.

Purchases were made on luxury flats, fast cars as well as designer clothes and watches. Rea was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

He earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of being involved in serious organised crime as well as another under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The court heard the gang was snared after a large-scale police probe in 2021. O’Hara was serving a life sentence at the time having been convicted in 2005 for the murder of Paul McDowall in Glasgow‘s Possilpark. The Operation Gadget investigation had initially focused on another crew member David “Murfy” Hough.

Police went on to seize a huge haul of class A drugs, firearms, grenades, ammunition and an industrial pill press that churned out hundreds of thousands of street Valium tablets. The court heard how O’Hara was raging at one stage as Rea – reportedly an enemy of the Lyons crime mob – had not paid the rent on his behalf.

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The killer stormed: “See if my family are papped out, there will be no talking. There will be no nothing, mate. We will be falling out over this.”

There was so much cash flooding in O’Hara wanted to buy a £225,000 Lamborghini Huracan. He also sent his partner 71 links on the Rightmove property site of houses in affluent areas ranging in value from £500,000 to £1m. These included a £525,000 flat in Glasgow’s Kelvinside and a £635,000 house in Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire.

Fraudster who flogged £4m in fake designer gear from Turkey

A fraudster who imported £4m of fake designer goods into Scotland from Turkey and the Far East was jailed for three years.

Ian Jones, 65, from Paisley, was sentenced to three years at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Wednesday, June 24. He was jailed after he earlier admitted 15 combined charges of selling counterfeit goods valued at £3,800,000.

Jones sold the illicit items at three industrial units across Glasgow and Lanarkshire between June 2021 and November 2022. His operation was unravelled by officers from Trading Standards when they conducted raids at all three addresses.

There, they uncovered hauls of fake designer clothes and bags with brands including Gucci, Prada, Stone Island, Dior and Canada Goose. The search of five rented Portacabins in Ibrox in June 2021 resulted, at the time, in the largest recovery of counterfeit goods of its kind in the United Kingdom.

It took officers two days to collate the goods, which weighed 30 tonnes. The court heard how Jones stored the goods at units in College Milton Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, and Righead Industrial Estate, Bellshill, as well as those in Glasgow.

The items were imported from Hong Kong, China and Turkey before being transported to Scotland from the East Midlands to Smith’s home address and then the industrial cabins. They were then sold directly to customers for cash using word of mouth. Jones will now be subject to confiscation action under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover the cash he illegally gained.

Footsoldier for mobster rival of Jamie ‘Iceman’ Stevenson

A footsoldier for a mobster who is the rival of Jamie ‘Iceman‘ Stevenson was jailed for 40 months on Thursday.

Declan Price, 29, was caught with £300,000 of cocaine. He worked with drug kingpin Paul Easdon, 38, who was snared during a police probe which saw him kept under watch. Easdon and Price admitted to a charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine.

Easdon, of Strathaven, is already serving six years behind bars. He was sentenced in October 2024 for his part in a huge drug trafficking operation. Easdon will appear to be sentenced for his latest matter next month.

The flash dealer had boasted how the cartel was making £4m-a-month from selling cocaine alone. Easdon was in the same criminal network as ex-Mr Scotland bodybuilder John Barry McDuff, jailed separately for seven years in 2024.

The pair had been caught after the law authorities smashed the EncroChat phone network used by scores of gangs. Easdon had used the nickname “glasgowceltic” to communicate with associates on it.

He is also understood to be a rival to Jamie Stevenson. The “Iceman” reportedly ordered firebomb attacks on a hair salon in Hamilton run by Easdon’s wife.

Laura Radcliffe, defending Price, told the sentencing that her client’s offending started amid a fall out with his uncle who was his employer. The advocate added: “He had temporary employment which did not work out and he was in a difficult financial position with debts accruing.

“He came into contact with those involved in the drug trade and the opportunity was made to him to make some money – he had not been involved in this before. This is something he will regret for the rest of his life and has had an effect on his family who are disappointed in him. He is disappointed that he finds himself before the court.”

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I AM not yet sure whether I support Andy Burnham, but I am keen on devolution.

By this I do not just mean combined authorities and directly-elected mayors, I mean innovative and surprising measures to share power and status more evenly across England.

It seems that this may become part of the Burnham agenda.

Now may be a time for York to think big. Boris Johnson, years ago, suggested moving the House of Lords to the city. Coming from him, this was never credible. But the idea itself had merit.

Why not move a drastically slimmed-down Lords to York, at least for the majority of its sessions ? Why not rename it the “Senate”, a Roman concept for what was once a Roman city?

Modernisation, especially when built on cultural roots, can bring positivity.

This, in turn, can act as a catalyst for economic and social renewal.

John Gemmell

Trentham Road,

Wem, Shropshire

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As tourists prepare to pack their suitcases for a summer trip, decisions about how to be a green holidaymaker increasingly involve how to move around the resort or city, as well as how to get there.

Walking and cycling are still regarded as the most sustainable ways to explore holiday destinations. They reduce emissions, improve health and wellbeing and allow visitors to engage more closely with local places.

Some popular holiday destinations make it much easier for tourists to walk, cycle or use public transport to get around, while in other places driving is the most obvious option, adding to congestion and overcrowded transport systems. Our past study indicates that what decisions tourist hubs make about design and transport can influence travellers’ transport choices on arrival.

What destinations can do

Many cities, including Paris, are investing in helping tourists and locals get around in an environmentally friendly way. The French capital has a €250 million (£216 million) programme to add more cycle lanes and paths. But simply expanding infrastructure is not enough. Visitors need transport systems that they can use easily and make them feel comfortable and safe.

Several other European cities are demonstrating how active travel can be successfully integrated into the visitor experience.

Copenhagen is often regarded as one of the world’s most cycle-friendly cities. But its success is not simply the result of having more cycle lanes. The Danish capital gives out cycling maps and detailed route information, aimed at tourists, showing distance, terrain, journey time and route difficulty. Visitors can also download maps and information about navigation around the city to their phones. This can make cycling feel more predictable and accessible, particularly for people unfamiliar with the city.

Utrecht, in the Netherlands, has routes across the city which give cyclists priority over cars. Its central station has the world’s largest indoor bike parking garage. The city has invested over €60 per person on its annual cycling budget and has more than 100,000 secure on-street cycle parking spots. These work for local residents as well as visitors.

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The Belgian city of Ghent has focused on creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment, cutting down the areas where cars can go, and encouraging walking and cycling between attractions. They now have nearly 20km of streets just for bicycles, connecting neighbourhoods and over 300km of off-road protected bike lanes.

What is common in all these cities is a recognition that active travel is not merely a mode of transport, but it is part of the overall visitor (and residential) experience.

Evidence suggests that shifting to active travel, including using a scooter or wheelchair, can significantly reduce emissions by up to 11%.

Dealing with the heat

However, hotter summers can put people off travelling on public transport, especially if it is not air conditioned, or involves long walks in the heat. According to the World Health Organization, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense and prolonged due to climate change. In EU countries, heatwaves led to tens of thousands of deaths in 2022. Extreme weather has caused substantial economic costs estimated at €560 billion between 1980 and 2021, highlighting the urgent need for more climate-resilient cities.

There is growing research showing that extreme heat discourages walking and cycling, particularly among older adults, families and visitors unfamiliar with a city.

However, research on climate adaptation suggests that adding new facilities is important as temperatures rise. These include shaded areas, drinking water, public toilets, seating areas and cool spaces. A cycle route may look attractive on a map, but if users cannot rest, rehydrate or escape extreme heat, intuitively they may choose other travel options instead.

Guidance from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a group of 96 cities which work together on tackling climate change, highlights the importance of designing walking and cycling routes that are comfortable, inclusive and resilient to climate change. This includes wider pavements, green corridors, signposts and maps, and safe crossing places.

Not just for tourists

This approach can improve wellbeing, strengthen communities and enhance urban ecosystems. For example, street trees and various flora can provide shade and support biodiversity. Green corridors of trees along pathways can encourage walking and cycling, while also helping cities adapt to heatwaves. And shady public parks can also help improve visitor experiences and quality of life for residents in hot temperatures particularly.

In our research on the infrastructure work on Edinburgh, we found that cycling infrastructure and bicycle parking often become less well established beyond the city centre, particularly around popular destinations such as the city’s extinct volcano Arthur’s Seat. Although Edinburgh has made significant progress in promoting active travel, infrastructure gaps (such as being too far away from a bus route) can still discourage visitors from using public transport.

All of these challenges are even greater in cities such as Las Vegas or Dubai, where temperatures frequently exceed 40°C. In places with extreme temperatures, encouraging active travel (when safe to do so) among tourists or residents requires more than infrastructure alone. Cooling strategies, providing shade and rest areas are essential.

Tourists’ choices about how they travel are shaped by how destinations are designed as well as willingness and ability to choose different options. Incorporating active travel options can be an important part of city planning to tackle climate change, and benefit residents as well.

One of the cheeky Scots lads asked the ‘driver’: “Alright big man, what time you on ’till?”

Members of the Tartan Army have been left “buckled” after catching a driverless taxi around Miami.

The lads were left in stitches, dolling out Scottish patter to their “driver” while they made their way through the streets of the city in Southern Florida.

Filming their antics, the Scotland fans donned their strips as they got into the Waymo cab and asked “you busy the night?”.

The driverless car could be seen cruising through the streets and stopping to let pedestrians cross the road. The lads continued dishing out one liners to the empty driving seat, asking “Alright big man, what time you on ’till?”

The boys kept their windows down, as they blasted music and even had a singalong with a pedestrian who spotted their tartan strips.

Driverless taxis are commonplace in big US cities, and currently being tested in London – but Scottish ministers have yet to rule on whether they will permit them north of the border.

As they were dropped off at their destination, the lads shouted: “Thank you driver, bye driver!”, mimicking an iconic Scottish viral video.

Hundreds of Scots and Americans weighed in on the lads’ patter, with the video racking up almost 100,000 likes.

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One person wrote: “Not the bye driver!” Another said: “He wisnae very talkative.”

Another added: “I’m convinced the Scots are having way more fun than anyone else right now.” Another said: “Bonnie banter.”

The Tartan Army are clinging onto slim chances that we can still make World Cup history by progressing from a group for the first time. According to Opta, Scotland’s chances of progressing lie at just 0.07 per cent.

Steve Clark‘s team currently sit 10th in the 12-team third-place table, with only the top eight progressing to the last 32. While the journey for the Tartan Army in America may be over soon, Scots have been recalling the trip of a lifetime.

Gordon Mains, a 55-year-old engineering director from Bishopbriggs, told the Record: “We’ve had a brilliant time in Miami, though. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. We were lucky enough to get tickets to see us play at the Hard Rock Stadium. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible. It’s just a shame the match didn’t live up to the same standard.”

Nando Vastano, a 45-year-old who runs a holiday complex in Aviemore, was heading home on Thursday with his pal Jamie Rodgers, a 46-year-old funeral director from Kingussie.

He added: “The game itself was really disappointing. Yesterday, everything that could have possibly gone against us, went against us. We had all the games on in Little Havana and we’re asking ourselves, ‘Are we going to Mexico?’… No, we’re going home.

“We blew it ourselves but now the results have gone against us too, it’s over. But the trip has been absolutely magnificent. Memories for the rest of our life for sure.”

Jamie said: “It’s over now. We have no chance, I don’t think we deserve to go through anyway. It’s home time. We arrived on Monday night and haven’t stopped partying since then, so it’s probably a good thing!”

Scott Strachan, a 55-year-old chart surveyor, from Aberdeen, was enjoying a last cocktail with his son Scott Jnr, before the pair head home.

Scott Snr said: “Our trip has been amazing. Friendly people. But we’ve been out here in America for two and a half weeks so we are ready to go home now. We felt very deflated on the night and the results haven’t gone our way since. I think it’s almost impossible now, but we still live in hope.”

Scott Jnr, a 25-year-old quantity surveyor now living in Brisbane, said: “We’ve still had a really good time. We’ve been watching the other games, but to be honest we don’t deserve to go through. If we go through, we will probably get gubbed 3-0 in the next game. So there’s no hope anyway. It’s time to go home.”

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Third Rothesay Test, Trent Bridge (day three of five)

New Zealand 438 (Conway 157, Latham 151; Stokes 4-70) & 120-3: Ravindra 60*

England 354: Duckett 113, Bethell 74; Smith 4-91

New Zealand are 204 runs ahead

Scorecard

England’s deciding Test against New Zealand – and perhaps the future of the hosts’ management – hangs in the balance after a dramatic and fluctuating third day at Trent Bridge.

As a previously flat pitch began to break up and play tricks, England first surrendered the initiative with the bat, then tried gamely with the ball to hang in the contest.

At the end of it all, New Zealand moved to 120-3, a lead of 204 looking sizeable given the unevenness in the surface that became apparent on Saturday.

The Black Caps had been 12-2 and 51-3, but Rachin Ravindra’s unbeaten 60, alongside 26 not out by Daryl Mitchell ensured the tourists remain in the driving seat.

England began the day with an opportunity to get close to New Zealand’s first-innings 438, only to lose three crucial wickets for 10 runs inside the first six overs.

Joe Root was out for 21 and Jacob Bethell 74 – neither man adding to his overnight score – before Jamie Smith managed only one.

Harry Brook made a calm 58, but when England lost their last three wickets for four runs, the home side were left 354 all out and 84 behind on first innings.

New Zealand seamer Zak Foulkes, who only came into the game on Friday as a concussion sub for Blair Tickner, took three of the wickets to fall on Saturday, including Brook and England captain Ben Stokes.

Stephanie Davis’ mother Shirley Oliver, 42, was killed in one of Cardiff’s most notorious murders

“It’s just madness. They can do all that, come out and have a better life than people who are struggling and working for years. He has been allowed to change his name, I don’t understand how he was able to do that.”

These are the words of a woman who has lived for the last 21 years without the person she calls her best friend, her mother Shirley Oliver.

In that time, the two brothers who killed Shirley and left her body dumped in a Cardiff alleyway in 2005 have served life sentences and been freed from prison. One, Christopher Jones, was 21 when he was jailed for murder and was still younger than 42-year-old Shirley when he was released from his jail sentence.

Shirley’s daughter Stephanie Davies was also 21 when her mum died. She and her family were distraught and angry when the killers Christopher and Stuart Jones were released from prison.

She has since been a helpless bystander as the younger brother Christopher changed his name and has repeatedly been in and out of the courts since he was released. He was jailed again last week after being caught with substantial amounts of cannabis, ketamine and hundreds of pounds in cash.

Stephanie said it was wrong how he had been allowed to live a better life than people who lived honestly and worked hard.

She said: “The whole time since they got sentenced I fought to keep them inside, not out. The one brother Stuart, I haven’t heard his name since he’s been caught.

“It’s just madness, they can do all that, come out and have a better life than people who are struggling and working for years. (Christopher) has been allowed to change his name, I don’t understand how he was able to do that.

“I never got over it, when it’s there we were horrified and it set us all back. My phone, my door, my messages, that’s the only way we found out.”

Christopher has since changed his name to Christopher Mason-Jones, and has been living in Russell Street, Swansea.

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Stephanie said Mason-Jones, who laughed after being sentenced for murder, has shown no remorse for her mother’s murder and she was scared for her family’s safety.

She added: “He’s institutionalised now, his life is prison so coming out he can do what he wants because he doesn’t care if he goes back inside.

“And then who’s to say again when they let him out next he doesn’t do something like that again.

“There’s no closure either, I worry every time I see someone who looks like him and I worry about what I’d do if I came face to face with him. When he’s inside it’s no comfort because he’ll be released before you know it.”

Her mother was beaten, strangled, and stamped on by brothers Christopher and Stuart Jones, then 31, before they dumped her body in a Cardiff alley in 2005. She was killed amid an argument over a garage bill she said she had paid after accepting a lift home from the two men.

A sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court heard Shirley was removed from the vehicle by Christopher and dropped on the floor. He then stamped on her. She was then strangled, beaten and left for dead. The murder was described by a judge as a callous and cold-blooded killing …of a woman who did you no wrong”. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.

Both Christopher, then 21, and Stuart, then 31, were sentenced to life imprisonment. But Christopher, now 42, was given parole in 2018 and released on life-long licence against the wishes of Shirley’s family.

This week he found himself back before the courts this week and was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment for being concerned in the supply of cannabis, being concerned in the supply of ketamine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, possession of ketamine with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property.

Speaking about the news of Mason-Jones returning to prison, Stephanie said she had been inundated with friends and acquaintances messaging her.

She said: “It just starts all over again, people stop me and ask questions… I’m grateful people care so much but it’s over and over and over. (The killers) get to move on and live their lives. We’re the ones with a life sentence, not them.”

Stephanie still thinks about her mother all the time and described her as the “kindest person”. She added: “She would give anyone her last. She was like my mum and my best friend.”

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Richard Whiffin’s side held on to claim a narrow 24-25 victory against the hosts in Tbilisi

Wales U20s held on to claim a dramatic 24-25 victory against Georgia in their opening match of the Junior World Championship, ending the game with 13 men.

Richard Whiffin’s side were eight points clear heading into the final five minutes, but faced a nervy finish as wing Tom Bowen picked up a second yellow card moments after Yestyn Cook was also sent from the field for conceding a late penalty try that saw the hosts in Tbilisi close the gap to a single point.

As Georgia pushed for a late winner, it looked as though they had done so as replacement back rower Irakli Kolbaia bulldozed his way over the line only to be judged to have been held up, with Wales holding on to record an opening round win.

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Gloucester flanker Caio James had given Whiffin’s young side the perfect start as he powered over under the posts after just five minutes, with Scarlets fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones adding the extras from the tee.

Cardiff wing Rhys Cummings then stretched Wales’ advantage with just over quarter of an hour gone, showing neat footwork to beat two men and cross in the left corner.

However, Georgia responded through the highly-rated Mikheil Shioshvili, with the Toulon backrow bundling over after a powerful lineout drive.

Shioshvili struck again three minutes before half-time, showing his immense strength as he carried Sion Davies and Evan Minto with him as he powered over the line to reduce the deficit to 15-12 at the break.

After the restart, Bowen was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, with Georgia capitalising immediately as prop Gabriel Razmadze got the ball down off the back of another lineout.

Despite their man disadvantage, however, Wales went looking for a response.

They thought they had it seven minutes later as a superb long-range pass from Steffan Emanuel saw full-back Lewis Edwards go over in the corner.

However, replays showed that Edwards had lost the ball from his grasp under pressure when going over the line.

There was to be no mistake moments later, however, as Leggatt-Jones crossed following more impressive work from co-captain Emanuel.

A 75th-minute penalty try for Georgia saw Cook head off the field before Bowen was shown a red to set up a nail-biting finish, but Wales did enough to hold on to seal victory and leave the hosts heartbroken after a pulsating encounter.

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The beach is often overlooked, but this makes for a more peaceful visit

When the hot weather arrives in England, the beaches quickly fill up with sun-seekers. Unfortunately, people from our landlocked county of Cambridgeshire to travel to get to the coast.

However, there are many beaches within an easy driving distance of the county. One that’s worth the visit is West Runton beach in Norfolk, just a two-hour drive from Cambridge.

This sand and shingled beach is considered one of the more peaceful to visit in Norfolk. There are miles of footpaths and bridleways for people to walk in the surrounding area.

The beach is also backed by cliffs, which offer an “impressive backdrop to the beach”, according to the Visit North Norfolk website. One thing the beach is most famous for is the discovery of a nearly-complete mammoth.

Part of the Ice Age animal was first discovered on December 13, 1990. Local residents Margaret and Harold Hems were walking along the beach when they discovered a large bone sticking out of the cliffs.

The couple contacted a local museum and it was later discovered that the bone was a pelvic bone of a large steppe mammoth. A year later in 1991, fossil hunter Rob Sinclair discovered more large bones in the area.

After the two discoveries, an excavation took place in 1995. Within three months, archaeologists managed to find 85 per cent of a mammoth.

This is the most complete set of bones of a mammoth that has been discovered in the world. As well as this major discovery, other small fossils have been found at West Runton, making it an important archaeological spot.

As well as being a hotspot for fossils, the beach is often overlooked, as more people visit nearby Cromer. However, this provides a more peaceful visit for people.