Latest news with #BrianSmillie
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Yahoo
Edinburgh Dragon's Den star barged his way into man's flat and robbed his TV set
An Edinburgh Dragon's Den star barged his way into a man's flat before robbing him off a TV set. Brian Smillie, 47, repeatedly pushed his victim on the body before forcing his way into the flat while shouting and uttering threats. He also demanded the man hand over his phone and watch. Smillie repeatedly punched the man on the body and stole his television set during the incident at a flat on Glasgow's Clutha Street on October 26, 2023. READ MORE: Edinburgh's George Street to get new Screwfix store selling 'everyday essentials' READ MORE: Scottish mum 'devastated' as bloated stomach diagnosed as stage four cancer The founder of Edinburgh-based company Beezer appeared on the BBC show in 2018 seeking investment for the firm that allows anyone to create and manage their own app without technical skills. Smillie received an offer of £125,000 from Peter Jones which he accepted before opting to hold out for a better deal elsewhere. He also sold both his houses and his Banksy art collection to focus on Beezer. Smillie, of Stirling, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault and robbery at Glasgow Sheriff Court on July 16 and is due to be sentenced next month. It's not the first time the former contestant has found himself in the dock. Earlier this year he was sentenced to carry out unpaid work after launching a "sinister" attack on his former partner's car. He turned up to the home of his former girlfriend in Stirling in December 2024 wearing a balaclava before smashing the window of her vehicle with a hammer. Smillie earlier admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages
The Courier
30-04-2025
- The Courier
Stirling Dragon's Den contestant smashed ex's car with hammer
A former Dragon's Den contender from Stirling who donned a balaclava to smash his ex-partner's car windscreen with a hammer was warned in court, 'stay away from her'. Brian Smillie, who appeared on television to persuade the BBC show's team to invest in his tech business, went to the woman's house five years after their split. She was woken in the middle of the night by a loud banging and looked out her window to see masked Smillie holding a hammer next to her car. As he walked off, the woman and her adult son confronted him and he asked: 'Do you know what you've done to me?' Sheriff Mark O'Hanlon told the 47-year-old: 'This is a serious matter – over five years after the relationship you attend her address carrying a hammer and wearing a balaclava. 'Clearly that was distressing for her. Thankfully nothing happened when you were walking away.' He sentenced Smillie to two years of supervision with a condition he take part in the Caledonian men's project and imposed 135 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he granted a three-year non-harassment order in relation to his victim, adding 'stay away from her'. Fiscal depute Ann Orr told Stirling Sheriff Court the woman had been in a four-year relationship with Smillie that ended in 2018. After being woken shortly before 5am on December 3 last year, the complainer and her son confronted Smillie outside. The prosecutor said: 'He said to (the complainer) something along the lines of 'do you know who I am?' and when she said she did and to stay away, he said 'do you know what you've done to me?'. 'In interview he indicated it had been (the complainer's) son who had the hammer and he had gone there to get money he said he was owed.' Solicitor Virgil Crawford, defending, said: 'It's a fairly unusual offence due to the time between the relationship and this behaviour. He was distressed when he went there. 'It's quite clear from the report that Mr Smillie had issues in his life – some ups and some downs. The things were playing on his mind, causing him to act in an irrational manner.' At a previous court appearance he admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at a property in Stirling. He had originally been charged with stalking the woman.
