Latest news with #JosephStewart
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Man who gave fireworks to Bonfire Night rioters sentenced
The disorder in Niddrie left a police officer injured and forced Lothian Buses to withdraw services from the area on the night after the operator's vehicles were targeted and damaged by pyrotechnics. Such violent activity has come to be expected around Halloween and Bonfire Night in Niddrie and other areas such as Gilmerton and Sighthill. Sheriff Joseph Stewart said the custody threshold was "easily met" but did not opt to impose a prison sentence. He told the 24-year-old: "I could very easily send you to prison today for a considerable period." Under the terms of his sentence, passed down on Monday, July 14, McMillan will be required to remain at home between 7pm and 6am during the period of the order. The judge said if this was breached he would go "directly to prison". McMillan's arrest came as part of a major criminal investigation into the offences that took place at the end of October and start of November 2024. Reacting to the events at the time, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, who is the MP for Edinburgh South, called for action to prevent the sale of fireworks "to those who wish to use this time of year to cause havoc on our streets". Read more Speaking last month after McMillan was found guilty, Chief Superintendent David Robertson, Divisional Commander for Edinburgh said: 'This conviction should send a very clear message that the reckless and dangerous behaviour we witnessed across Edinburgh last year will not be tolerated. 'Police officers and other emergency service workers do not come to work to be attacked, and the level of violence directed towards them during Halloween and Bonfire Night was wholly unacceptable." Robertson said McMillan "did not act in isolation," adding he anticipated "further positive court outcomes for those involved in disorder during 2024". He said: "We are currently working with key partners ahead of Bonfire Night 2025 to protect our communities from this reckless and dangerous behaviour, which simply has to stop.'
Press and Journal
03-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Drink-driver abandoned car on 'pitch dark' A835 with no lights
A drink-driver who abandoned his car on the 'pitch dark' A835 with no lights has been jailed. When Joseph Stewart's Audi A4 broke down, he left it in the middle of the carriageway, with no lights on, despite it being 'pitch dark' outside. When Stewart was traced, tests established that he had been over the drink-driving limit at the time. Stewart, 26, appeared via videolink from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit charges of drink-driving and leaving the vehicle in a dangerous position. Fiscal depute Martina Eastwood told the court that it was around 6.40pm on March 1 this year when two police motorcyclists came upon Stewart's car in the middle of a 'live lane' near Maryburgh on the A835. The fiscal depute said the car – which had no lights on despite it being 'pitch dark' at the time – presented a 'risk of road users potentially colliding into it'. The officers checked the vehicle and found it unlocked, with the keys in the centre console. Stewart was subsequently identified as having been the driver and traced. A breath alcohol test revealed him to be more than twice the legal drink drive limit with 56 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit being 22 microgrammes. Solicitor Roger Webb, for Stewart, told the court that this was his client's first driving offence. He said: 'He realises that he has messed his own life up by going into Inverness for a drink with his employer that day and then driving back.' The defence agent explained that the clutch had 'burned out' on the vehicle, leading to Stewart's decision to abandon the car. 'He is aware of what he has done,' Mr Webb said. Sheriff Gary Aitken fined Stewart £600. No time to pay was sought and the alternative of 28 days in prison was imposed.
