Latest news with #HMPGrampian
Press and Journal
a day ago
- Press and Journal
Drug dealer who lost £9k running from police must now hand over same sum again
A drugs trafficker lost £9,000 when police raided his Aberdeen flat – and now he is another £9,000 down. Police combating county lines gangs got a tip that Rory Morgan and his drugs gang were operating from a property in Esslemont Avenue in the city last June. As officers raided the flat, Morgan ran into the bathroom and try to flush items down a toilet – but he forgot to hide his unexplained cash. The 31-year-old was arrested – and detectives recovered £9,000 from the scene along with a quantity of cocaine worth £31,000 with Morgan's DNA all over it. Police then became aware that Morgan was also dealing drugs from a second property in Granton Place. They searched that flat and found nobody there – but discovered drugs. Morgan was charged with operating an organised cocaine dealing operation in Aberdeen alongside Dean Alford, 39. The pair were both convicted of the offence earlier this year and will be sentenced later this month. However, in the meantime, a proceeds of crime hearing took place today at the High Court in Edinburgh to consider the ill-gotten gains in Morgan's name. During the hearing, advocate depute Brian Gill KC told the court Morgan rented and frequented the two properties. The prosecutor said: 'On June 18 2024, police received intelligence that an organised crime group, including Alford, were dealing in drugs in the Aberdeen area was using the two flats.' It was that intelligence that led to the two raids on the properties. The court heard today how both prosecutors and defence lawyers had agreed that Morgan had made £9,115.00 from his criminal activities. Judge Alison Stirling ruled Morgan must now hand over the sum. She gave him six months to do so – and if he fails, he could face extra time in jail. We previously reported that Alford, a prisoner in HMP Grampian, has twice been jailed for Class A drugs offences in England. The now 39-year-old served an 11-year sentence in 2016 at Woolwich Crown Court in London after being convicted of dealing cocaine. Alford would take orders for drugs from customers by phone under his made-up brand known as 'Duffy'. He would then get underlings to deliver the drugs and collect the profit. Alford would then make children deposit their earnings, which could be as much as £2,000 a day. Mr Gill said Alford was also subject to a slavery and trafficking prevention order imposed on following conviction for human trafficking offences.
The Courier
09-05-2025
- The Courier
Violent prisoner from Dundee slashed rival in football game
A violent prisoner from Dundee who cut the throat of another inmate during a football game behind bars, before making a phone call saying 'don't expect me home soon'. John Etchells, 31, slashed his victim in the neck in an exercise yard at Edinburgh's Saughton jail, before telling prison officers: 'I'll not be threatened by any rodent.' Etchells, who has a history of violence inside and outside the prison system, later said in a call: 'I tried to kill the boy too but didn't get it.' He is currently on an Order for Lifelong Restriction and a judge ordered his latest sentence on five-and-a-half years should begin from May 6 2028, which is the earliest date he could apply for parole under the indeterminate sentence. Etchells, who is currently in HMP Grampian, admitted attempting to murder Connor Steele, 24, at the prison on June 1 last year after approaching him from behind and striking him on the neck with a knife to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life. He also pled guilty to the unlawful possession of a knife. Advocate depute Leanne Cross told judge Lord Stuart: 'The accused has several pages of previous convictions, many of which involve serious violence.' His convictions include offences of attempted murder, serious assault and weapon possession. She said prior to the attack on Steele, he was playing football in the yard and Etchells was standing at benches outside the yard. 'While the complainer was still playing football, the accused entered the exercise yard and approached the complainer from behind. 'The accused removed an item from his pocket. 'He then cut the complainer's throat from left to right before backing away towards the rear of the exercise yard.' Steele was seen holding his neck and shouting he had been slashed. Officers saw his neck quickly become covered in blood. Help was immediately sought and one of the officers saw Etchells place what he believed was a knife down his trousers. The thug claimed that he had 'chucked' the knife but then suggested he had hidden it internally. He later handed over a ceramic blade, which was broken into pieces. Prison officers applied pressure to the wound sustained by Steele and he was taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was found to have suffered significant blood loss and a cut from the middle of his neck to the right ear. A consultant said the injury posed a real danger to life due to blood loss. Police investigating the attack seized a recording of a phone call made by Etchells, in which he said: 'Don't expect me home soon. I'm up for slaying somebody's throat again.'
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Daily Record
Scots prisoner cut inmate's throat during football game at Edinburgh jail
John Etchells, 31, slashed his victim in the neck when he was playing football at an exercise yard at Edinburgh's Saughton jail before telling prison officers: "I'll not be threatened by any rodent." A violent prisoner who cut the throat of another inmate before making a phone call saying 'don't expect me home soon' was jailed for five and a half years today. John Etchells, 31, slashed his victim in the neck when he was playing football at an exercise yard at Edinburgh's Saughton jail before telling prison officers: "I'll not be threatened by any rodent." Etchells, who has a history of violence inside and outside the prison system, later said in a call: "I tried to kill the boy too, but didn't get it." He is currently serving an Order for Lifelong Restriction and a judge ordered that his latest sentence should begin from May 6 in 2028 which is the earliest date he could apply for parole under the indeterminate sentence. Etchells, who is currently in HMP Grampian, admitted attempting to murder Connor Steele (24) at the prison on June 1 last year after approaching him from behind and striking him on the neck with a knife to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life. He also plead guilty to the unlawful possession of a knife. Advocate depute Leanne Cross told Lord Stuart: "The accused has several pages of previous convictions, many of which involve serious violence." His convictions include offences of attempted murder, serious assault and weapon possession. She said that prior to the attack on Steele he was playing football in the yard and Etchells was standing at benches outside the yard. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The prosecutor said: "While the complainer was still playing football, the accused entered the exercise yard and approached the complainer from behind." "The accused removed an item from his pocket. He then cut the complainer's throat from left to right before backing away towards the rear of the exercise yard," she said. Steele was seen holding his neck and was shouting he had been slashed. Officers saw his neck quickly become covered in blood. Help was immediately sought and one of the officers saw Etchells place what he believed was a knife down his trousers. Etchells claimed that he had "chucked" the knife but then suggested he had hidden it internally. He later handed over a ceramic blade which was broken into pieces. Prison officers applied pressure to the wound sustained by Steele and he was taken by ambulance to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was found to have suffered significant blood loss and a cut from the middle of his neck to the right ear. A consultant said the injury posed a real danger to life due to blood loss but that was managed quickly and effectively by prison staff, ambulance personnel and accident and emergency staff. Police investigating the attack seized a recording of a phone call made by Etchells in which he said: "Don't expect me home soon. I'm up for slaying somebody's throat again "
Press and Journal
03-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Provisional driver from Banff ran away from police while clutching beer
A Banff man who was seen driving a damaged car at 10mph with the deployed airbags ran away from police while clutching a bottle of beer. Richard Stuart, 31, appeared by video link from HMP Grampian, where he is currently on remand, to be sentenced for driving his car without insurance or a licence when constables caught up with him on March 23 this year. He also admitted to not complying with the drink-driving procedures after he was caught with a beer when trying to make his escape from the scene. The court was told he only did that because he felt aggrieved after one officer kneed him in the groin during his arrest. He will now be banned from driving for 40 months. Fiscal depute Kirsty Martin said officers spotted Stuart's car, a silver Vauxhall Corsa, driving through Banff at about 11.55pm. They observed that it had been damaged, airbags were deployed, and that Stuart was driving it at speeds below 10mph and swerving. 'The vehicle came to an abrupt halt and the accused exited the vehicle,' Ms Stuart said. 'Constables went after the accused. When they caught up with him, they found him to be in possession of a bottle of beer.' He was taken to Fraserburgh police station, where he refused to comply with testing procedures for alcohol. 'He was thereafter kept in police custody,' Ms Stuart added. Checks would later reveal Stuart had only a provisional driving licence and no insurance on the car. Stuart's defence agent, Stuart Beveridge, said his client was at a 'low ebb' because of the breakdown of a family relationship at the time of the offence. Mr Beveridge said: 'He accepts when the police became aware of him he did run away from them. 'And, to be fair to him, in some of the evidence I've seen, police officers do accept in the process of arresting him there is a struggle and he is in fact kneed in the groin by one of the police officers and that, as referred to by Mr Stuart, as to why he thereafter refused to cooperate with them at all.' Banning him from the roads, Sheriff Robert McDonald said he was 'disappointed' to see Stuart in the position he was. 'I'm disappointed to see you appearing from custody,' he said. 'In the circumstances, I don't think there's any sensible option but to sentence you today.' In addition to the driving ban, Sheriff McDonald also imposed fines with no time to pay to take account of Stuart's status in custody. As a result, his total fine of £800 will be converted into 28 days of imprisonment.
Press and Journal
30-04-2025
- Press and Journal
Fraserburgh man carried out vicious early hours assault for £120 in cash
A Fraserburgh man has admitted to carrying out a violent early-morning attack on his victim to rob him of just £120, a court has heard. Craig Murray, appearing on remand from HMP Grampian, was in the dock at Peterhead Sheriff Court to stand trial for a host of charges, including assault, theft, and threatening to set fire to a woman's home. But the 33-year-old had a change of heart mid-way through the trial and changed his plea to guilty after hearing first-hand evidence of his attack. Murray's 27-year-old victim, who gave his testimony by video link, said he had been living in the Scalloway Court area of Fraserburgh at the time and had been alone in his flat when Murray arrived on his doorstep at 2am clad in a camouflaged balaclava and, in a Scouse accent, demanded entry into his property. He was unsure of the exact date, but court papers suggest it took place on an occasion between April 13 and 18 last year. The man said: 'He came in, sat on my sofa, and that's when everything kind of started. 'He put my Xbox into a bag, he smacked me a few times. He said I owed him money for drugs. 'He stamped on my head. He gave me a good left hook to my face, and that split my lip. He started punching me on the face, stamping on my head. I didn't see it coming. 'I basically laid on the floor crying, asking him to stop. 'When I was on the floor he stamped on my head a couple of times.' As the assault went on, the man added he was also threatened with death. 'He said he could hang me in my stairway and no one would care,' he said. The attack happened between 2am and 4am before Murray walked him to Fraserburgh's Watermill Service Station and then Asda to withdraw £120 from his account. Asked by fiscal depute Brian Young why he handed his bank card and PIN number over, the man said the alternative was getting beaten up more. Saying he was 'terrified' for his life, the victim said: 'I knew he had the capability of doing a lot worse. 'It was easier giving him my bank card than suffering – what I was going to be suffering.' After taking the cash, the pair would then go to Murray's own property on Scalloway Park, where the man was told to stay overnight so Murray could make sure he would not report matters to the police. Following the attack, he said he suffered with black eyes, a lump on his head, bruising and a split lip. On another occasion, in early May, the same man said he was again visited by Murray. Murray stole his bank card, a bus pass, mobile phone, Xbox console and videogames, including Fallout 4 and Grand Theft Auto 5. 'This time I didn't get hit,' the man told the court. 'He wanted me to pay him £1,500 for not getting a beating this time.' Murray also admitted to visiting the home of his victim's mother on May 17 and threatening to set fire to it and assault her in an attempt to extort more cash. Sheriff Craig Findlater presided over the case. Ahead of sentencing, he called for background reports to be prepared and told Murray he would remain in custody until those were complete. 'I will adjourn prior to sentencing for those reports to be made available to the court,' the sheriff said. 'I will also continue consideration of non-harassment orders.' Alexander Law, of Peterhead, appeared as a co-accused alongside Murray during the case. He admitted to a single charge of behaving in an aggressive manner towards others, on St Andrews Drive in Fraserburgh, on May 17 which was accepted by the Crown. Law was given bail and told to come back to court next month for sentencing.
