Publication
Support worker on ketamine put residents at risk
A NORTH support worker has been struck off after putting care home residents at risk by turning up for work under the influence of ketamine. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) ruled Georgie Main’s fitness to practise was impaired by her use...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Police tell of £180k isles cocaine haul seized in last year
Cocaine with a street value of £180,000 was seized in the Outer Hebrides last year. In addition, there were raids on fishing crews where some were victims of modern slavery. Western Isles police inspector Neil Taylor told the monthly meeting of...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
Speed limits at Nairn site ‘not legally enforceable’ Confusion for A96 motorists over road signs at new roundabout on outskirts of Highland town
CONFUSION has broken out over new speed limits on the A96 near a Highland town as it emerged that they are currently “unenforceable”. Signs have been erected for 30mph and 40mph zones at the new roundabout, pictured, passing the Delnies housing...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Leadership hopefuls back drilling
The MSPs vying to become the Scottish Labour leader have said they support new drilling in the North Sea – and that the UK Government should approve Jackdaw and Rosebank “as soon as possible”. Joe Fagan and Michael Marra gave their backing to the oil...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
King visits town for anniversary
KING Charles spent the day in Dingwall yesterday as the town marked its 800 years of history. The monarch received a warm welcome on Friday as he visited the Easter Ross town, which is celebrating 800 years since it was granted royal burgh status. He...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Wildfire-hit firms to receive a share of £3m relief fund
BUSINESSES affected by the Cairngorms wildfires are set to share a £3 million support fund, the Scottish Government announced yesterday. Economy secretary Stephen Flynn visited Glenmore three weeks after the blaze started to see for himself the impact...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Residents’ anger at council decision in short-term let row
RESIDENTS in a central Inverness neighbourhood are outraged at Highland Council’s decision to grant a short-term let licence to a business couple. The owner of Inverness’s Aye Eat restaurant and Aye Stay guest house, Roberta Shayer, applied to convert...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Tory leader steps down in row over taxi licence
A FIFTH member of Highland Council’s licensing committee has stood down after voting to allow a convicted rapist to keep his taxi operator’s licence. Leader of the Tory council group Ruraidh Stewart, pictured, did not attend a special full council...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rapist taxi driver gives up licences to operate
AN Inverness taxi driver currently in prison for raping one of his teenage passengers has given up his operator licences. Highland Council’s licensing committee came under fire in June after members voted against suspending or revoking David Brown’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Shortage of NHS doctors leaving patients in limbo
A LACK of consultants could see delays in the treatment of Highlands cancer patients, the health board has revealed. NHS Highland say that their oncology service is facing consultant workforce shortages, which is posing “some risk to service...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
City police probe suitcase mystery
POLICE in Inverness yesterday joined the investigation into the death of a Scottish woman in Greece whose body was found in a suitcase. The Press and Journal understands 38-year-old Elisabeth-Jane Ross, pictured, has connections to the Highland...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rape fiend ex-sergeant will appeal conviction
A RAPIST former police sergeant is appealing his conviction, The Press and Journal can today reveal. Fiend Cameron Ross, 39, from Nairn, was jailed for 10 years earlier this month for carrying out twisted sex attacks on two women in the Stornoway area...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Councillor’s £13k travel bill covers over 28,000 miles
A HIGHLAND councillor has racked up an astonishing 28,412-mile travel expenses bill – costing the taxpayer almost £13,000. The huge distance claimed for by Glasgow-based Lib Dem Patrick Logue, pictured, in the past two financial years is more than...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fuel depot bid ‘could take lorries off the A9’
A SPANISH company has applied to turn a shuttered road load facility into a new fuel depot that they say will reduce the need for lorries on the A9. Exolum wants to turn the long-disused site at Longman Road in Inverness into a distribution hub for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Oil tycoon and philanthropist Sir Ian Wood dies aged 84
Sir Ian Wood has been remembered as a “true guiding light” of Scotland’s business community following his death at 84. The Wood Group founder and philanthropist died peacefully at his north-east home with his family by his side. As well as being a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Military help is not needed for wildfire, says Swinney
FIRST Minister John Swinney has turned down military help to tackle the ongoing Cairngorms wildfire after the UK Government said the armed forces did not have extra aerial support to drop water on the blaze. The military were in a position to offer...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
7 THINGS TO DO
From Highland games to ceilidh high jinks, there is plenty to see and do in the north and north-east this weekend. Here is our guide to seven events you won’t want to miss. GAMES GALORE Dufftown Highland Games takes place today with a packed line-up...
Read Full Story (Page 2)
‘I feared I wouldn’t survive to see my two children again’
AN INVERNESS mum has told how she feared she would die after suffering multiple brain bleeds during a mini-stroke. Casey MacRae, 23, took seriously ill while on holiday with her family in Lossiemouth. When told by NHS 24 that an ambulance was not...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rising costs take huge bite out of Walker’s profits
ICONIC Moray firm Walker’s Shortbread has seen its profits more than halve after a surge in butter prices, higher labour costs and challenging export conditions squeezed its margins. The Aberlour-based company, pictured, reported pre-tax profits of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Swinney told air support needed to fight wildfires
FIRST Minister John Swinney was warned of the “stark implications” wildfires pose to “people, businesses and nature” as he visited the devastating scene of a blaze in the Cairngorms yesterday. Mr Swinney hailed the combined efforts of firefighters and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Paedophile is facing jail over abuse video hoard Beast had 12 days’ worth of sickening footage of children as young as one being sexually assaulted
A PAEDOPHILE caught at his north home with more than 12 days’ worth of sick child abuse videos is facing a prison sentence. Mark Whitton, 56, pictured, appeared in the dock at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit downloading thousands of indecent clips...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘I received no justice after rapist spared jail’
A WOMAN who was raped by a soldier when she was 13 years old feels “completely failed” after her attacker dodged jail time. Shaun McKenna pled guilty to the assault, and three other sexual crimes, but judge Lord Anderson declined to impose a custodial...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Wind farms given nod at Holyrood
TWO huge wind farms estimated to provide enough electricity to power two million homes and create hundreds of jobs have been given the green light. The North and South Caledonia offshore wind farms in the Moray Firth will include up to 140 turbines...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Crews battle to contain 6km wildfire
Crews continued to try to extinguish a major wildfire burning in the Cairngorms National Park last night. The blaze, which started near the Ryvoan Bothy on Wednesday, forced the closure of a number of businesses, including Loch Morlich Watersports and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Renewables cash could help tackle local issues
THE new Highland Wealth Fund could help improve the region and fix problems residents have voiced concerns about, Highland Council officials have claimed. The pot of cash, inspired by the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund, aims to collect money from...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Taxi scandal may open door for a Reform victory
HIGHLAND Council is set for a by-election in Caithness after the resignation of veteran independent councillor Willie MacKay. Reform UK is targeting the seat as it hopes to use the taxi scandal to gain a grip of the north. The Wick and East Caithness...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Taxi driver starts bid to appeal rape conviction
A HIGHLAND taxi driver convicted of raping a teenage passenger will launch an appeal against his conviction and sentence, it has been confirmed. David Brown, 50, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison and put on the sex offenders...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Family stands by rapist taxi driver amid licence row
THE wife of rapist David Brown has said his family believes he is innocent and is standing by him. Anne-Marie Brown’s social media post, which was put on Facebook after her husband was sentenced in May, has resurfaced as the controversy over Highland...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Video appears to show fiend working at airport while licence was suspended as he awaited trial Taxi rapist ‘picked up passengers during ban’
TAXI rapist David Brown continued to pick up passengers despite having his operator’s licence suspended, other drivers have claimed. The Press and Journal has seen video footage, believed to be from March this year, of the fiend working at Inverness...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Elgin ‘auto firm’ duo face jail after £800k drug bust
TWO men who opened an auto warehouse as a front for a major drug-dealing operation were busted after failing to file any accounts. Ben Terry, 35, left, and Mark Davidson, 36, far left, launched car-detailing firm Eliv8 Details Ltd at Tower Place in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Taxi rapist storm councillor backed sex assault tycoon
A HIGHLAND councillor who voted not to suspend the operator’s licence of a rapist taxi driver previously supported a millionaire tycoon jailed for sexually assaulting an au pair in a separate matter, The Press and Journal can today reveal. Sean...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Brute given 18 years for rapes and baby attack
A VIOLENT thug has been jailed for 18 years for raping four of his ex-partners and attacking a baby. Dariusz Matejewicz, 39, was sentenced at the High Court in Stirling, pictured, for the offences, which took place in Inverness, Aviemore and Dingwall,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Lib Dems expel taxi rapist vote row councillor
A HIGHLAND councillor expelled from the Liberal Democrats yesterday after voting to allow a rapist to keep his taxi operator’s licence has cited “technical problems” as playing a part in the controversial decision. Jon Grafton, pictured left, was one...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Dad: I could never abandon my girls despite abuse hell
AN Oban dad today bravely reveals the years of abuse he suffered at the hands of a violent partner – and how his devotion as a father stopped him from walking away. Patrick Crawford, pictured, says he suffered repeated physical assaults, controlling...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Golf business dream is a virtual reality
THREE of the six male Highland councillors who voted to allow a rapist taxi driver to keep his operator’s licence have resigned from the licensing committee. The controversial decision concerning jailed sex attacker David Brown, 50, pictured, of Croy,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Evil police sergeant faced trial over third rape case a decade ago
AHighland policeman who raped two women was accused of raping a third young female a decade ago, but prosecutors told the alleged victim they were abandoning her case on the day the trial was due to begin. Cameron Ross, originally from Nairn, carried...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Six councillors who backed taxi rapist revealed Sex attacker keeps operator’s licence following vote split by gender
A TAXI driver who raped a teenage passenger was allowed to keep his operator’s licence after six male councillors voted against a bid by police to have it revoked, The Press and Journal can today reveal. David Brown, 50, pictured, of Croy near...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Time for a reset on Labour’s North Sea and energy policy
A BUSINESS leader says flourishing high streets are vital for maintaining vibrant communities as she backed our Fresh Start campaign calling for a change to rates rules. Sarah Medcraf, chief executive of Moray Chamber of Commerce, wants politicians to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Rich pickings as airport welcomes 1,000 high fliers
A Highland travel hub is welcoming almost 1,000 private jet flights each year, figures obtained by The Press and Journal can today reveal. Wick Airport, pictured, appears to be a prime destination for affluent high the far north. US billionaire Kelcy...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Flynn: Talks needed over A96 money challenges
NEWLY-ELECTED Stephen Flynn says upgrading the A9 and A96 is a promise he is determined to deliver – but adds that the tough financial situation can’t be overlooked. Mr Flynn has taken on the role of transport chief, which includes making progress on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
1,000 applicants chase 10 homes
THE housing shortage in Inverness is so severe that more than 1,000 people applied for just 10 rental homes. The Highland Housing Alliance revealed the eye-watering demand for properties to let at Parks View in the Highland capital as concerns grow...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Gus touched so many lives with his kindness, generosity and banter’
Inverness is mourning the sudden death of much-loved businessman Gus MacDonald, whose familyrun Crazy Golf at Bught Park was one of the city’s most popular destinations. Mr MacDonald died suddenly on Wednesday at the age of 54. He is survived by his...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Locals’ fury over Povlsen’ s house conversion plan
SCOTLAND’S richest man has been given approval to turn a home on the NC500 route into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO). Ben Loyal Ltd – a company owned by billionaire Anders Povlsen, pictured – submitted the HMO application to convert a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Man guilty of assault on toddler at sport centre
A 33-YEAR-OLD man has been found guilty of assault after he kissed a child without her consent. Mohammed Ali Haider Abdullah kissed the three-year-old girl at Atlantis Leisure Centre in Oban in April, the town’s sheriff court heard. Giving evidence,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘The Caledonian calling for locals and city tourists’
THE new owner of an iconic Inverness pub has vowed to make it one of the city’s top haunts once again after “years of neglect”. Rob Reeley, pictured, recently purchased The Caledonian on the High Street and plans to reopen it next month. And he vowed...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Skye teen Archie saves two men in daring sea rescue
A HERO Skye schoolboy saved two men from the sea after they fell out of their inflatable dinghy. Archie Law, 15, spotted the pair in trouble from the shore and went out in his boat to pluck them to safety from the choppy waters off Broadford. His...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Killer driver made ‘mockery of trial’
THE grieving family of an Inverness dad killed in a crash by a multi-millionaire German entrepreneur who was driving on the wrong side of the road have called his acceptance of guilt at the sentencing stage “too little too late”. Motorcyclist Michael...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘My luxury hotel will help to build on city’s appeal’
THE boss of an Inverness hotel firm says his luxury new development in the city centre will bring huge benefits to surrounding businesses. Work is ongoing to transform Bridge House on Church Street into the sumptuous Kin Hotel. The presence of a huge...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Firms rebuked for dividing up housing plans
HOUSEBUILDERS will be sent a stern letter from Highland Council amid concerns they were “pulling a fast one” over plans for new homes in Inverness. Tulloch Homes and Barratt David Wilson applied to build a combination of 136 properties in the city’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Cafe owner: Rates changes can perk up our high street
A PROMINENT Inverness businessman has called for changes to business rates to help revitalise the city. Chris Corbett, who has been running Charlie’s Cafe at the bus station for three years, believes small changes could make a huge difference to new...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘We are not holding up government asylum bid’
HIGHLAND Council has rejected UK Government claims that it is blocking plans to house asylum seekers in Inverness. It is nine months since the Home Office announced Cameron Barracks, pictured, would be used to house 300 refugees but the plans remain...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Billionaire’s ‘aim to turn church into private bar’
A US oil billionaire who bought a £25 million castle along the North Coast 500 route has now snapped up the nearby village church, The Press and Journal can reveal. We previously reported on how the publicity-shy magnate now owns nearly 10% of all the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Figures show Inverness is again second most expensive city in Scotland
HOUSE prices in Inverness have surged 166% in the past decade, with the average property now £200,000. The latest data released by the Registers of Scotland shows that, for the eighth year in a row, the Highland capital is the second most expensive...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Thug’ s threat to abduct victim in row over £52,000
A BUSINESSMAN threatened to abduct a former work colleague after a land deal turned sour. Paul Birnie, 56, pictured, of Oban, sent a series of sinister messages to his victim during a long-running financial dispute. The Argyll town’s sheriff court...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Airport bill soars in bid to fix staff shortages
TRAINING costs at Inverness Airport’s air traffic control soared last year as it looks to address a shortage of skilled employees, new figures have revealed. Passengers have been facing disruption and have been left waiting on the tarmac for up to an...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Local firms are ‘cut off in favour of wind farm’
BUSINESSES in Sutherland fear the six-week closure of a “lifeline” bridge could hit them financially. The Tirry crossing, near Lairg, will be shut from June 15 to allow strengthening work to be carried out so huge components for 490ft turbines can be...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Coercive rapist ex brainwashed me for 13 years’
A HIGHLAND rape survivor who endured more than a decade of abuse at the hands of her ex-partner has told how the brute “brainwashed” her and controlled every aspect of her life. The woman was tormented for 13 years by Dingwall fiend Andrew Gardiner,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Chocs away as new city shop to open
examination had been arranged by the procurator fiscal. Mrs MacLean-Stewart, pictured left with her late husband and young son Lachlan, told The P&J: “I thought that because Kieran’s body had been released and we were given a cause of death that we...
Read Full Story (Page 1)