Latest news with #Aviemore
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- General
- Telegraph
Watch: Driver drags police officers down road
A mother dragged two police officers along the road when she drove off after giving them a false name. Lauren Baird, 43, was jailed after she put the lives of the constables in danger when she fled at speed in Aviemore, Scotland. Inverness Sheriff Court was told the officers challenged her about the inaccurate information she gave at 10.35pm on July 10, 2023. Baird accelerated away and the two victims were fortunate not to have gone under the car on the B9152 road between Kincraig and Rothiemurchus. Sheriff Sara Matheson was shown dashcam footage of one officer detaching himself after a few feet and the other only managing to free herself several yards along the road. She was left having to use crutches and has not returned to duty. A tearful Baird was jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for 43 months. Sheriff Matheson told Baird, who had admitted culpable and reckless conduct to the danger of life, attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving false details and attempting to conceal her vehicle and driving without a licence or insurance: 'This was appalling behaviour. 'It put two officers' lives in danger. It was pure luck their injuries weren't a lot worse. But it has had a significant psychological effect on them.' Defending, Natalie Paterson said that her client 'didn't appreciate the terrible consequences her actions had caused. She panicked when she was stopped by the police, which is a decision she regrets.' Fiscal depute Susan Love told the court that police had difficulty in obtaining Baird's true details in a half hour conversation during which she showed the officers a photograph she claimed was her, but clearly was not. The court heard that the one true thing she said was that she was staying at the nearby Coylumbridge Hotel, but when she was told she was being arrested, she drove off at speed. Ms Love added: 'It was fortunate that the officers did not go under the wheels of her car. ''They were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment to grazing, bruises, head swelling, an injured knee and a staved finger.'' When their police colleagues checked the hotel soon after the incident, they found her there. Her car had been concealed in a forest road close to the property.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Woman who injured two police officers when she drove off at speed as they were questioning her jailed
A mum has been jailed after she dragged two police officers along the road when she drove off after giving them a false name. Lauren Baird, 43, put the lives of the constables in danger when she fled at speed in Aviemore, Scotland. Inverness Sheriff Court was told the officers challenged her about the inaccurate information she gave at 10.35pm on July 10, 2023. Baird accelerated away and the two helpless victims were fortunate not to have gone under the car on the B9152 road between Kincraig and Rothiemurchus. Sheriff Sara Matheson was shown dashcam footage of one officer detaching himself after a few feet and the other officer only managing to free herself several yards along the road. She was left having to use crutches and has still not returned to duty. A tearful Baird was jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for 43 months. Baird had previously admitted culpable and reckless conduct to the danger of life, attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving false details and attempting to conceal her vehicle and driving without a licence or insurance. Sentencing her, Sheriff Matheson told Baird: 'This was appalling behaviour. 'It put two officers' lives in danger. It was pure luck their injuries weren't a lot worse. But it has had a significant psychological effect on them.' Defending, Natalie Paterson said that her client 'didn't appreciate the terrible consequences her actions had caused. She panicked when she was stopped by the police. which is a decision she regrets.' Fiscal depute Susan Love previously told Sheriff Sara Matheson that the female officer still had not returned to work. Ms Love told the court that police had difficulty in obtaining Baird's true details in a half hour conversation during which she showed the officers a photograph she claimed was her but clearly it was not. The court heard that the one truth she delivered was that she was staying at the nearby Coylumbridge Hotel but when she was told she was being arrested, she drove off at speed. Ms Love added: 'It was fortunate that the officers did not go under the wheels of her car. 'They were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for treatment to grazing, bruises, head swelling, an injured knee and a staved finger.' When their police colleagues checked the hotel soon after the incident, they found her there. Her car had been concealed in a forest road close to the property. However Ms Love told the court that she had used the bolt to prevent the house key unlocking the door and permission was granted for a forced entry. 'But she continued to delay matters and was in the bathroom getting dressed.. But the officers could hear the sound of the toilet being repeatedly flushed.' Drugs possession charges against Baird were dropped by the prosecution service.
The Sun
13 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
Horrific moment mum drags two cops down road after speeding off during traffic stop – as she's jailed
THIS is the horrific moment a mum dragged two cops down a road after speeding off during a traffic stop. Lauren Baird, 43, had been pulled over by police, who noticed her car was not insured. 4 But in a "moment of panic", the mum-of-two sped off as the officers were still clinging to the vehicle. Footage showed the cops being dragged along the road in Aviemore, Scotland, before one manages to detach themself. But a female officer was only able to let go several yards up the street and was left needing crutches. Baird sobbed as she was jailed for 18 months today after admitting culpable and reckless conduct to the danger of life. She also pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving false details and attempting to conceal her vehicle and driving without a licence or insurance. Sentencing, Sheriff Sara Matheson said: "This was appalling behaviour. "It put two officers' lives in danger. It was pure luck their injuries weren't a lot worse. But it has had a significant psychological effect on them." Inverness Sheriff Court was told Baird had been driving through Aviemore on July 10, 2023, when she was stopped by police. A computer check had revealed her car had no insurance but Baird gave a false name and details to the officers. After she was challenged, the mum sped off - with both cops narrowly avoiding being dragged under her wheels. Police were able to track her down to the hotel where she was staying and found the car concealed in a forest nearby. Both officers were taken to hospital with multiple injuries - including grazing and bruising. The female officer has still not been able to return to work following the horror. Natalie Paterson, representing Baird, told the court she had panicked and not foreseen the "terrible consequences" of her actions, which she fully regretted. As well as a jail term, Baird was disqualified from driving for 43 months. Supt Andrew Barclay, from Police Scotland, said: "Whilst neither officer sustained serious physical injury her behaviour was very dangerous and has had a significant affect on those officers involved. "A police officer's job, by its very nature, often means they can find themselves dealing with volatile and dangerous situations to protect the communities we serve. "It is totally unacceptable for officers to be put in harms way or injured by the irresponsible actions of others." 4 4
The Courier
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Perth musician Blair Davie on 'fans coming up to me crying' and missing Scotland
Perth-born singer Blair Davie is at home in the Fair City, chilling with family before their first headline tour in the UK and Europe. At just 25, Blair Davie – who uses the pronouns they/them – has done what many musicians wait a lifetime to achieve. They not only gained an Ivor Novelli Rising Star Award last year, but also secured a first record deal and US radio air play for their single Butterflies. Blair Davie grew up on a musical diet of anything from Eric Clapton to Dr Hook and Louis Armstrong. Life in the Davie household revolved around music, with mum Catriona from a piping family and dad Andy a keen guitarist. 'My brother Struan played sax and keyboard and we were always making up songs and singing at each other – it was a bit of a madhouse!' Blair started guitar lessons with the late Jack Kelly and quickly became hooked. They remember 'playing Green Day covers with my friend Kyle Fummey when we were six years old'. Having taken to guitar like a duck to water, Blair casually mentions that: 'I taught myself piano. Now I write my music on the piano but I still love to play the guitar live.' The young musician (who turns 25 this month) feels lucky to have found their path in life so easily: 'I've never been confused about what I was going to do with my life. I have an inherent need to pick up the guitar and a need to write the song. 'I would be doing this if nobody was listening and I'm just grateful that there is a wee bit of an audience now.' Having moved to London two years ago, Blair says that they now appreciate their Scottish upbringing more than ever. 'I nipped into the Twa Tams to see some friends last night and there was a folk session on and they let me borrow a guitar and sing a few songs. 'That's the kind of stuff I miss about Scotland – how friendly and welcoming everyone is. I can just turn up to the pub and be welcomed into the group.' The singer-songwriter is excited to be heading off on a European tour taking in France, The Netherlands and Germany shortly. Then they'll be back in Scotland. 'I'm doing my first ever Scottish headline tour.' 'Doing some intimate venues across Stirling, Aviemore, Kyle of Lochalsh, Aberdeen and then finishing at Perth. 'I love playing live – it is such a big part of me as a songwriter and an artist. 'I feel like it takes a song to another level. 'I've always said that playing live is the real moment where I feel like I am on to something special.' Blair's songs come from a personal place and they obviously connect with fans. 'I try and always be vulnerable and honest to my songwriting,' they explain. 'I just started on the stage and singing about, you know, my truths. 'It allows people to connect with me, but then to take it in their own ways as well and when you play live you can see it in real time. 'Some of my most special moments in my career have been people coming up to me after the show crying and being able to open up about things that they maybe haven't been able to speak about with other people.' Life in London is treating Blair well – and they have also had the opportunity to write and record in Nashville and LA thanks to a recording contract with American label Giant Music. 'I was never not proud to be Scottish. But when I moved to London, it became a huge part of my personality.' 'I was telling everybody and seeking out other Scottish people.' 'I've only played a handful of shows in Scotland and I don't think ever a headline so I'm just really excited to be playing in Scotland again.' Over the past few years Blair has not only been writing and releasing their own music but has formed song-writing partnerships and friendships with high-profile names. Mark Prendergast of Kodaline and 2002 Fame Academy winner David Sneddon have become writing collaborators and firm friends. 'It's always been the dream to get where I am now – if you had told 13 year old me that would be my job now, I would have bitten your hand off for it!' As we talk on the phone, the soft-spoken singer is chatty and relaxed but they admit they're 'an introvert at heart'. It has taken a while for them to get to grips with how to deal with promoting their music via social media but now, with help from videographer brother Struan, 20, Blair feels more comfortable with their online profile. 'I struggled with it because it felt like you have to be a bit of a TV presenter and I'm really not that kind of person. Now, I am happy to post videos of me in the studio and always make the music the focus. 'I'm happy to be on social media if it's on my own terms.' Meanwhile, they have single releases planned almost every six weeks. Butterflies is out now and their next single is due to drop at the end of June, 'is a love song that's very personal to me and my partner'. Blair's UK tour will include shows in Stirling on June 5 and at home in Perth on June 7.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
UK's oldest polar bear euthanised at Highland Wildlife Park
The UK's oldest polar bear has been euthanised due to her deteriorating health, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has who was 28, was the mother of Hamish, who in January 2018 was the first polar bear cub to be born in the UK in 25 years. Her keepers at RZSS' Highland Wildlife Park said she had been receiving geriatric care, and the decision to end her life on Tuesday was taken on the advice of had shared an enclosure at the park, near Aviemore, with her second cub Brodie, aged three. The Highland Wildlife Park also has two adult male bears, 16-year-old Walker and Arktos, who is 17 and is the father of Hamish and was moved in 2020 to Doncaster's Yorkshire Wildlife Park Resort, where he is one of six polar bears. Polar bears can live into their early 30s, but survive an average of 15 to 18 years in the keepers said 28 was the equivalent of her being in her 90s in human said in December that keepers had noticed Victoria was struggling to keep up with specialist care included medication to give her relief from joint diet included cod liver oil, lard, salmon oil and oily fish like sardines, mackerel and food was given in an attempt to achieve the benefits she would have enjoyed from eating seals in the wild. The RZSS said: "We are sad to share the loss of Victoria, the UK's oldest polar bear, who was experiencing age-related health problems and had been receiving geriatric care. "Taking into account her quality of life and wellbeing, our wildlife conservation charity's vets advised that Victoria should be put to sleep."It added: "She leaves an incredible legacy through her cubs who play an essential role in the European breeding programme, which ensures a healthy and genetically diverse population of these bears living in human care."Victoria was born in 1996 at Rostock Zoo in Germany and had previously given birth at Aalborg Zoo in Denmark in at Aalborg she gave birth to a female cub called arrived at RZSS' Highland Wildlife Park in March 2015. During Victoria's later care, RZSS drew on the experiences of other zoos and studies of polar bear skeletal remains to help understand wear and tear on the animals' provided to domestic cats and dogs also helped guide the care of park has had an elderly polar bear died at the park in April 2011 at the age of 30.
