Paisley Daily Express
MOTORWAY CLOSED FOR HOURS M8 BRIDGE PLUNGE HORROR
Two women were rushed to hospital after a car crashed through a barrier on a Paisley bridge and landed on the M8 motorway. The incident happened at around 8:40pm on Thursday between Renfrew Road and junction 27 of the motorway. Two women were taken...
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RAI OWNER HITWITH SAFETY ORDER
The owners of a firehit former hospital building in Paisley have been ordered to complete works to make it secure by the end of the month. Renfrewshire Council has outlined measures that need to be undertaken at the old Royal Alexandra Infirmary in...
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ROADRAGE BUSDRIVER GUILTY
Sentenced A Paisley bus driver who drove off with a cabbie clinging on to its doors in a fit of road rage avoided jail yesterday. Daniel Smith, 35, got into an argument with George Meek, 67, after crashing into him in Glasgow’s Hillington on...
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MANHUNT AFTER STREET ATTACK
Police have launched a manhunt following an attempted murder in Paisley. The “violent attack” took place on George Street at around 8pm on Monday when a 53-year-old man was left with serious injuries. He was rushed to hospital where his condition was...
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MUMSEEKSFUNDS TOGETZAKHOME
A Renfrewshire holidaymaker who suffered a horror “threestorey” fall while in Malta is ready to come home after waking from an induced coma. Zak Mcgowan, 21 (pictured) sustained head injuries, a fractured spine, and several broken bones following the...
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MASKEDE-BIKE ANDSCOOTER GANGSSPARK FEAR Community call for action as residents‘intimidated’
Masked riders have been spotted cruising around Renfrewshire on e-bikes and e-scooters in a trend that is “intimidating” communities. Independent politicians have held talks with cops to learn more about a crackdown on the anti-social behaviour...
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MUM’S ANGER OVER£50KFINE FORSON’SDEATH
The mum of a young dad killed at work says she is“disgusted”after his employer was fined a “mere” £50,000. Steven Tervit, pictured, had been carrying out a dismantling operation at a specialist technology centre in Renfrew when he was ejected from a...
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FAILED FRAME-UP
A thug who carried out a murder bid on a man went on to stab his own leg and blamed his victim. Thomas Irvine struck Allan Wheelan in Barrhead on April 16. The pair were separated by an unknown male with Irvine shouting as he walked away: “I’ve...
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IS THERE NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO ABOUT CHILD POVERTY?
A Barrhead councillor insists she is “disheartened” at the lack of progress on tackling child poverty rates in the town. The SNP’s Angela Convery hit out after a report showed the highest rates were in parts of Dunterlie, East Arthurlie, Dovecotehall...
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COMMUTERSTO FACEAMASSIVE DISRUPTIONTO ROADANDRAIL
Renfrewshire residents are facing road and rail travel disruption. The southbound carriageway of the Erskine Bridge, as well as one lane of the northbound carriageway, will be fully closed for a full weekend next month due to resurfacing...
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FAMILYANGUISH OVERTRAGICEND TODREAMTRIP
A Barrhead dad has died after taking seriously ill shortly before flying home from a holiday in Turkey. David Kelly (pictured) was due to jet home with his wife, Dawn, when his health rapidly deteriorated. The hard-working joiner was rushed from the...
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CAREREPQUITS AFTERSERVICES AXEAPPROVED
The carer representative on Renfrewshire Integration Joint Board (IJB) has resigned following the approval of controversial costcutting proposals. It has been confirmed Willie Paton, who was a non-voting member of the oversight body, has stepped down...
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LESSTALK,MORE ACTIONTO SECURE RAISITE Plea after latest blaze at former hospital building
Strengthened security measures are needed at a deserted hospital building in Paisley after last weekend’s blaze. That’s the message today from Renfrewshire councillor Eddie Devine. Police Scotland continues to investigate Sunday afternoon’s...
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ALLYTREES DECISION WILLGOTO EXTRATIME
A site visit has been scheduled in connection with a dispute between a Bridge of Weir resident and Rangers hero Ally McCoist over the height of two trees on his property. The football pundit’s neighbour recently challenged Renfrewshire Council’s...
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HIT-AND-RUN MURDER BID
An attempted murder investigation was launched yesterday after a woman was knocked down during a broad daylight hit-and-run. The incident happened around 3.45pm on Tuesday in Linwood. A car was deliberately driven at the 49-yearold woman on Clippens...
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RAGINGTHUG THREATENED HISOWNSISTER WITHANAXE
A Paisley axe maniac was snared prowling the streets armed with the weapon he used to threaten his sister. Gary Murdoch lost the plot after having an argument with his sibling over relationships during a drinking session. A pal had to step in and...
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FEARSOVER DELIBERATE FIREATRAI
Police were yesterday treating a fire at a deserted hospital building in Paisley as deliberate amid public concern about the “incredibly scary” incident. Emergency crews were called to the former Royal Alexandra Infirmary (RAI) building on Calside...
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CENTRESITESTILL FORSALEDESPITE AUCTIONMYSTERY
The Paisley Centre is still being put up for sale, its owners have confirmed, days after it was pulled from an online auction. The shopping centre and its associated car park had been listed as two separate lots in an auction organised by...
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PUTTINGLIVESATRISK
Renfrewshire councillors yesterday insisted lives are being put at risk by people throwing objects towards motorists on the A737. Police have launched an appeal for information following incidents which took place earlier this month. Items were...
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Three years behind bars for designer clothing scam
A Paisley man who was caught with one of the biggest hauls of counterfeit designer clothing in UK history has been jailed for three years. Ian Jones, 65, built up a £3.8 million store of fake high-end designer goods from Hong Kong, China and...
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‘PEOPLEARE DYING...CUTS ARETOBLAME’
Renfrewshire carers have warned ‘people are dying’as more pressure will be placed on their shoulders as a result of the approval of costcutting proposals. Measures drawn up to help close a £14 million budget black hole facing Renfrewshire Health and...
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DOCTOR’S STALKING BRANDED ‘SINISTER’
An NHS doctor who spent years hounding a Paisley patient in a “bizarre” and “sinister” stalking campaign has been spared jail. Dr Neitu Jeyasingh illegally accessed the man’s medical records to find out where he lived. She bombarded him and his wife...
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ARMEDCOPS RESPONDTO DISTURBANCE
Armed police swooped on a Paisley street following a disturbance which saw a man arrested. The drama unfolded shortly before 6pm on Sunday night at Arnott Place in the town. Multiple police vehicles, and appliances from the Scottish Fire and Rescue...
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HEARTBROKEN
The families of some of Renfrewshire’s most vulnerable people have been left“heartbroken”after a raft of cuts to social care services were approved. Renfrewshire’s Integrated Joint Board – which oversees the health and social care partnership – agreed...
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WOMAN LEFTBABY ALONEIN PRAMATA CAREHOME
A Barrhead woman neglected a baby by abandoning them at a care home in the town. Robin McMurray ditched the youngster, who can’t be named for legal reasons, in Carlibar Road. The 20-year-old took the tot to the Millview Care Home, and then walked...
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NOCASHTOSAVE LIFELINESERVICES
The Scottish Government has refused to stump up cash to save lifeline social care services in Renfrewshire which face being cut today. Neil Bibby MSP (pictured right) called on John Swinney to address the funding crisis in Renfrewshire Health and...
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MANHITBY CARRUSHED TOHOSPITAL
A man was due to appear in court yesterday following a disturbance in Renfrew which saw a male hit by a car. The 31-year-old was arrested and charged in connection with the incident which took place in broad daylight on Tuesday afternoon. He was...
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VITALSERVICES FACINGTHEAXE OVERCASHCRISIS
Cost-cutting proposals affecting some of the area’s most vulnerable people will be reconsidered as bosses sound the alarm over spending pressures. Decision-makers will revisit measures drafted to help close a budget black hole facing Renfrewshire...
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‘ACTISCOWARDLY, SHAMEFULAND HASNOPLACEIN OURCOMMUNITY’
People are rallying behind an immigrant family after their Paisley home was targeted in what is believed to be a racist attack. The windows of the house on Dalskeith Avenue – where young children live – were smashed early on Thursday; locals fear it...
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DINNERDATE FORORANGE LODGEREFUSED
An Orange Lodge’s request for civic hospitality from Renfrewshire Council – which would have cost £2,100 – has been rejected by a majority of elected members. Paisley District Loyal Orange Lodge contacted the local authority to raise the possibility...
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BLOWN AWAYBY £400K
Paisley’s Craig Ferguson has been given a huge boost as he aims to complete his Tartan Trek across the United States today. Craig – who has spent the last three months walking from Los Angeles to Boston in a bid to raise £1 million for SAMH (Scottish...
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GRAVECONCERNS
Grieving residents have been angered by the state of parts of Hawkhead Cemetery as Renfrewshire Council insists it is“working hard” to cut overgrown areas. Frustrations have been aired over the length of grass in and around headstones, in particular,...
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PLANSSCRAPPED
Plans to transform the Paisley Centre have been scrapped and the building will be put up for sale, the Express can reveal. Beyond Retail, which purchased the property in 2020, said it was no longer pursuing plans to transform the shopping centre site...
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JAILEDFOR STEALING £50KFROM PARENTS
A Paisley carer has been jailed and banned from contacting her own parents, after admitting stealing £50,000 from them. Donna Devine swiped the cash from Jennifer and Patrick Devine over a three-year period. And Devine, of Orchy Crescent in Foxbar,...
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WORKER HANDED ‘STREETVALIUM’ TOSERVICEUSER
A Paisley social care worker has been handed a 12-month warning after returning suspected Street Valium tablets to a vulnerable service user. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) issued the warning to Eva Adamson who was employed as a housing...
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BOWLINGCLUB’S LANDSALECOULD BEROLLEDOUT
A long-standing Paisley bowling club’s plan to sell off unused land for housing in an attempt to secure its own future has taken a major step forward. Hawkhead Bowling Club has had its bid for planning permission in principle for a residential...
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COPSPROBE SHOTSFIRED ATFERGUSLIE PARKHOUSE
Police have launched a probe after a gun was shot at a house in Paisley. Officers were called to reports of a firearm being discharged at an address in Blackstoun Oval in the Ferguslie Park area of the town at around 11.20am on Monday. No-one was...
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FAMILY’S ANGUISH ASSON INCOMA AFTERHORROR PLUNGEINMALTA
A Paisley man is sedated in a Malta hospital after falling from a height while on holiday with friends. Zak Mcgowan, 21, was on holiday for a music festival with friends last weekend, when he suffered a terrible accident on the last night of their...
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COUNCILLOR RAISES CONCERN OVER RAT FEARS
Businesses face being banned from storing commercial waste bins in public areas in Paisley town centre under a new policy. Renfrewshire Council plans to “prohibit” the often bright and bulky containers being left on streets and footpaths within a...
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CENTREFACELIFT WILLBEARISKTO THECOUNCIL
An independent investigation into the viability of plans to transform the Paisley Centre suggests it is too risky for Renfrewshire Council involvement. Initial feedback from Math Real Estate Partners argues the current proposals for the council to...
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COMMERCIAL PLANKO’DBY THECOUNCIL
The planning application for a development that promised to bring 120 jobs to Paisley has been thrown out. Renfrewshire councillors said plans for a McDonald’s drive through restaurant and electric vehicle charging hub on land north of St James’...
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GERSLEGEND’SHOMES PLANGETSREDCARD
Controversial plans for 33 new homes on land in Bridge of Weir that sparked almost 400 objections have been rejected by Renfrewshire Council. James (Glasgow) Ltd – which lists Rangers hero Ally McCoist and Jeffrey East as directors – has been refused...
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1ST CLASS FAIL
Paisley is the worst-hit for firstclass post delivery delays. As well as being in an unwanted first place, the town is the only area from Scotland in the top 10. According to the Royal Mail’s most recent quality of service and complaints report, 62.7...
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SEXATTACKERJAILED FORRAPINGYOUNG GIRL AND HOUNDINGHERONLINE
A sex attacker who raped and abused a young girl has been jailed for seven years. Beast Jason Wilkinson repeatedly preyed on the child which also included hounding her on social media. The 30 year-old, of Johnstone, initially groped and molested the...
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E-SCOOTER ISSEIZEDAS COPSPLEDGE CRACKDOWN
An e-scooter has been seized and a man charged with traffic offences as part of a crackdown on the illegal use of electric vehicles in Renfrewshire. Police Scotland revealed officers stopped a balaclava-clad rider and seized the scooter after it was...
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SERIALRAPIST TARGETEDNINE YOUNGWOMEN
A terminally-ill pensioner who spent almost half-a-century subjecting nine vulnerable young women to crimes including rape and sexual assaults has been jailed for 12 years. Kevin McConnell, 70, preyed on the females, who cannot be named for legal...
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COMMUNITY CENTRECREEP SENTPICSTO 13-YEAR-OLD
A Paisley community centre worker has been put on the sex offenders’ register after he sent pictures of his private parts to a teenage girl. Twisted Gordon Larkin was found guilty by a sheriff following a trial at Paisley Sheriff Court. Larkin, who...
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I’VEBEENCHEATED BY‘GARDENERS’
A pensioner’s garden has been left strewn with debris after he handed over £1,900 to a team of gardeners. Andy Thomson, who has stage four cancer, was desperate to have trees in his garden made safe when a man called at his door to say his firm was...
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PAEDOPHILE COMMUNITY HUBWORKER ABUSEDBOYS
A Renfrewshire writer who ran an organisation which hosted children’s poetry competitions has been convicted of sexually abusing young boys in Paisley. Mark Sherland is facing jail for abusing three victims at his former home in Stock...
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‘TOPTIER’GANG MEMBERFACES JAILFOR £14M DRUGSRACKET
A high profile member of a Scots crime gang has admitted his involvement in a £14m drugs operation. John Gray, of Paisley, was associates with gangster brothers Barry and James Gillespie as well as James ‘The Don’ White. Gray, 53, was snared by...
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SINGLE PUNCH KILLER JAILED
A man who killed a popular amateur footballer with a single punch has been jailed for seven years. Leon Beagan, 29, punched Andrew Lees outside Renfrew Leisure Centre on November 5, 2023. The 27 year-old – known as Panda – suffered a fatal rupture of...
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TEST OF FAITH
AND HAWES’ NUN FOR KEELEY FIRST SIGHT DRAMA FALLING IT’S LOVE AT PRIEST IN NEW PAAPA ESSIEDU’S
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APPEAL AGAINST MURDER CONVICTION
A woman serving life for participating in a “frenzied” knife attack alongside her then partner was wrongly found guilty of murder, appeal judges have heard. Stacey Balfour, 25, was ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years for her role in the death of...
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HORROR AFTERMAN HITBYCAR
A man was raced to hospital after being struck by a car in Paisley yesterday. The 45-year-old was hit by the vehicle on Neilston Road around 11.15am. Emergency services raced to the scene and the man was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for...
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TRAGEDYON THETRACKS
A person has died on a railway line in Paisley. The incident took place on Monday afternoon and sparked a major response from the emergency services. Police, paramedics and railway workers descended on the scene while some staff could be spotted...
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FRESHCALLS TOTACKLE RATSISSUEAFTER RODENTSPOTTED INBAKERY
Renfrewshire Council says it is working to eradicate rats from communities after a rodent was spotted in a Paisley bakery. The local authority said its environmental health teams had been made aware of the incident in which a rat was filmed inside the...
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£873K BILL FORHOTELS TOHOUSETHE HOMELESSIN RENFREWSHIRE
Almost £900,000 has been spent housing people in hotels in Renfrewshire over a three-year period, new figures have revealed. Data, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, shows 767 people were temporarily housed in hotels in Renfrewshire between 2023 and...
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BYGEORGE!MSP HOLDSPAISLEY
It was SN-glee in Renfrewshire yesterday as the party completed a clean sweep. George Adam, Michelle Campbell and Tom Arthur were all elected to the Scottish Parliament. Mr Adam held his Paisley seat while Mr Arthur was victorious in Renfrewshire...
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TEENSTABBED MANTODEATH
A Lochwinnoch teenager who stabbed a man to death in a Paisley street was locked up yesterday. Jaxon Millar, then 19, struck Robert McNally, 21, in the Maree Road and Lochbroom Drive area of the town on January 18, 2025. Judge Lord Mulholland told...
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SCHOOL TEACHER ACCUSEDOF SEXATTACKS ONCHILDREN
A Paisley teacher has appeared in court charged with 22 sex offences including claims he abused 13 children. Martin Gallacher, who taught at Paisley Grammar School, is alleged to have targeted the youngsters between 2013 and 2024. Gallacher, of...
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BOMBSQUAD RACETOSTREET
A suspicious item saw homes evacuated and the bomb squad called to Linwood yesterday. Emergency services raced to Reid Avenue around 9.30am when locals were asked to leave their homes and a wide cordon was erected. Images from the scene show the road...
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FLATSBIDFOR HISTORICSITE
A residential development could be built on the site of the fire-ravaged Speirsfield House once it is demolished, new plans have revealed. An application for planning permission in principle for 21 units in the grounds of the B-listed Speirsfield...
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NEWMUSEUM OPENINGSET FORFOURTHDELAY
The opening of Paisley Museum looks set to be delayed for a fourth time as Renfrewshire Council refuses to commit to its 2026 deadline. The local authority – which initially pledged to open the hub in 2022 – was working towards an opening in the...
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SUMMERSTRIKE ACTIONTHREAT
People flying to the World Cup could face disruption as airport workers consider industrial action in a dispute over pay, a union has warned. Aviation trade union Unite said that ICTS central search members based at Glasgow Airport are being balloted...
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TRIBUTESPAID TO‘WEEANGEL’
Buddies are continuing to come to terms with the loss of a six-year-old girl following a tragic accident. The girl died after being knocked down on Johnston Street on Saturday. Emergency services were called to the scene around 5.30pm following...
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PERVERT PRIEST JAILEDFOR SEXATTACK ONDRUNK VICTIM
A former Paisley and Barrhead priest has been jailed for sexually assaulting a drunk businessman in the house at his church. Father Stephen Baillie abused his victim after they had been on a night out together. Baillie, who was a priest for over 30...
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TRAGEDYAS SIX-YEAR-OLD GIRLDIESIN CARHORROR
A six-year-old girl has died after being hit by a car in Paisley. Emergency services were called to Johnston Street in the town following the horrific incident around 5.30pm on Saturday. Officers responded to reports of two children being struck by a...
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BUTCHER BEAST IS‘EVERY PARENT’S WORST NIGHTMARE’
A Renfrewshire butcher who posed as a teen to groom young boys on Snapchat was branded “every parent’s worst nightmare” as he was jailed for his crimes. his victims of their “innocence and childhood” as he was locked up for nearly four years. The...
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TERRORFOR WORKERSAS SHOPROBBED THREETIMES
A Paisley shopkeeper has described his terror after being threatened with a knife and hammer in two armed robberies. The man, who works at the Day-Today store on Neilston Road, was threatened by an armed robber who demanded he hand over a day’s...
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Festival on the menu
The sun is set to shine on this year’s super-sized Paisley Food and Drink Festival as it gets underway today. The free-to-attend event at Abbey Close has been expanded this year to include a Big Feed Foodie & Makers Market for the first time and will...
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SHOPROBBED FORASECOND TIMEINMONTH
Detectives are appealing for information after a Paisley shop was robbed for the second time within a month. A man, reportedly armed with a weapon, entered the Day-Today Express shop on Neilston Road at 9.25am on Tuesday morning and demanded the...
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Police Scotland rolling out video kits to its officers
Around 480 frontline officers in the Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division – including road policing officers, dog handlers and custody staff – will be provided with devices over the coming weeks. Police Scotland says the equipment can help to...
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ADDINGINSULTTO INJURY
The 32-year-old enforcer — the heartbeat of the club’s revolution in recent years — launched a passionate defence of his Buddie. Mullen endured a Hampden nightmare on Sunday as his howler led to Daizen Maeda’s opener after less than a minute of the...
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KNIFETHUG JAILEDOVER SAVAGE PUBATTACK
A knife attacker who stabbed an off-duty bar manager has been jailed for four years. Darren White, 46, struck Stephen Downie, 34, during the unprovoked assault at The Last Post pub in Paisley, on March 23 last year. The first offender pleaded guilty...
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