Latest news with #KirkcaldySheriffCourt
Daily Record
23-07-2025
- Daily Record
Private hire driver who sexually assaulted woman after takeaway delivery has licence suspended
Usama Yaseen, 27, has been placed on the sex offenders registry after the attack in Fife on March 20 last year. A private hire driver has had his licence suspended after sexually assaulting a woman he delivered a takeaway to in Edinburgh. Usama Yaseen, 27, has been placed on the sex offenders registry after the attack in Fife on March 20 last year. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard he told a woman he was delivering takeaway to, 'oh my God, you're gorgeous', before asking her for her phone number. Yaseen later returned to the address, and was invited inside for coffee. A few minutes later, while sitting next to the woman, he touched her chest and stomach, to which she immediately replied, 'you don't do that'. He left, and police were contacted. They took a statement from the woman, and Yaseen's DNA was found on the woman's dress. Police sergeant Grant Robinson told the Licensing Sub-Committee on Tuesday: 'I am of the opinion that by reason of this conviction for a serious sexual offence against a stranger, the private hire car licence held by the licence holder should be suspended. 'In my opinion, the licence holder is no longer a fit and proper person to hold the licence, and carry out the licensing activity, as it is causing and likely to cause affect to public safety.' Yaseen was found guilty at the sheriff court on June 13 of this year. Police Scotland wrote to the council on June 19 requesting the immediate suspension of his private hire driver's licence, which was granted. On Monday, the committee agreed to extend that six week suspension, the standard length for any urgent stop to a private hire licence, to the end of his licence's validity on August 5. Yaseen told the committee the woman had given him his phone number while he was delivering food to her home, and invited him in for a drink. He said he declined because he was working, but came in when she offered coffee instead. According to him, he accidentally brushed her dress with his hand while in her home. Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross said: 'Despite everything the applicant has said, we have a conviction in front of us, he needs to make his appeal to court, not to this committee.' Conservative councillor and Sub-Committee convener Joanna Mowat added: 'This has been tried in court, where solicitors can call witnesses. 'We haven't got a witness in front of us, but we do have a prosecution. I don't see us doing anything other than continue the suspension given that this has been tried at a trial court.' Cllr Ross came back in to ask: 'If we suspend the unexpired portion, which takes us to August 5, which isn't very long, is there a new application process? Is this likely to come back to us?' 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. Mr Mitchell replied the licence holder would still be able to apply to renew his private hire licence, and the renewal could be referred back to the committee. The committee agreed to extend the suspension of Yaseen's private hire licence until the end of its term. He applied for his first private hire driver's licence in August 2024, which was granted on August 16 of that year. Yaseen is due to be sentenced at a hearing on Monday, July 28.
Edinburgh Reporter
22-07-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Private hire driver who sexually assaulted woman has licence suspended by Council
A private hire driver who sexually assaulted a woman he delivered a takeaway to has had his licence suspended by Edinburgh Council. Usana Yaseen, 27, has been placed on the sex offenders registry after the attack in Fife on March 20, 2024. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard he told a woman he was delivering takeaway to, 'oh my God, you're gorgeous', before asking her for her phone number. Yaseen later returned to the address, and was invited inside for coffee. A few minutes later, while sitting next to the woman, he touched her chest and stomach, to which she immediately replied, 'you don't do that'. He left, and police were contacted. They took a statement from the woman, and Yaseen's DNA was found on the woman's dress. Police sergeant Grant Robinson told the Licensing Sub-Committee on Tuesday: 'I am of the opinion that by reason of this conviction for a serious sexual offence against a stranger, the private hire car licence held by the licence holder should be suspended. 'In my opinion, the licence holder is no longer a fit and proper person to hold the licence, and carry out the licensing activity, as it is causing and likely to cause affect to public safety.' Yaseen was found guilty at the sheriff court on June 13 of this year. Police Scotland wrote to the council on June 19 requesting the immediate suspension of his private hire driver's licence, which was granted. On Monday, the committee agreed to extend that six week suspension, the standard length for any urgent stop to a private hire licence, to the end of his licence's validity on August 5. Yaseen told the committee that the woman had given him his phone number while he was delivering food to her home, and invited him in for a drink. He said that he declined because he was working, but came in when she offered coffee instead. According to him, he accidentally brushed her dress with his hand while in her home. Liberal Democrat councillor Neil Ross said: 'Despite everything the applicant has said, we have a conviction in front of us, he needs to make his appeal to court, not to this committee.' Conservative councillor and Sub-Committee convener Joanna Mowat added: 'This has been tried in court, where solicitors can call witnesses. 'We haven't got a witness in front of us, but we do have a prosecution. I don't see us doing anything other than continue the suspension given that this has been tried at a trial court.' Cllr Ross came back in to ask: 'If we suspend the unexpired portion, which takes us to August 5, which isn't very long, is there a new application process? Is this likely to come back to us?' Mr Mitchell replied that the licence holder would still be able to apply to renew his private hire licence, and that the renewal could be referred back to the committee. The committee agreed to extend the suspension of Yaseen's private hire licence until the end of its term. He applied for his first private hire driver's licence in August 2024, which was granted on August 16 of that year. Yaseen is due to be sentenced at a hearing on Monday, July 28. By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Vigilante brothers abducted boys, 11 and 12, to ‘give them a fright' after parents' home vandalised
The pair told the 'terrified' youngsters they were 'going to batter them' TERRIFYING ORDEAL Vigilante brothers abducted boys, 11 and 12, to 'give them a fright' after parents' home vandalised A PAIR of vigilante brothers abducted two schoolboys in retribution for their parents' livingroom window being smashed by vandals. John, 53, and Richard Saunders, 50, grabbed the boys, aged 12 and 13, inside a Co-Op shop, and took them for a "terrifying" drive in their car. Advertisement 3 Richard Saunders and his brother John grabbed the boys after their parents' window was smashed 3 John Saunders said he and his brother acted after weeks of youngsters "causing havoc" 3 Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard the Saunders brothers took the law into their own hands Credit: Alamy Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard the Saunders brothers took the two boys' mobile phones off them to prevent them from calling for help whilst detaining them inside their car. After being bundled into the back of the vehicle and driven off the Saunders brothers told the "terrified" youngsters they were 'going to batter them'. The court was told the pair had reacted after weeks of young people "causing havoc" in the area where their parents lived. John, of Kenilworth Terrace and Richard, of Melrose Gardens, both Lochore, admitted abducting and assaulting the two boys on September 30. Advertisement They seized and pulled them by the body, removed them from a shop, struck one of them on the head and abducted both of them by forcing them into a vehicle and driving them away. The brothers drove around during the frightening ordeal, telling the children they were "giving them a fright", before dropping them off. At 9.45pm the mum of one of the boys heard a car pull up outside. The court heard John Saunders was pulling her boy by the jumper and told the mum what had happened. Advertisement The prosecutor told the court Saunders said that his mum's window had been smashed and that it had "been going on for months". Asked if he had anything to say to the court, John Saunders, who was representing himself, said, 'The window wasn't cracked, it was shattered and smashed. Rachael Watts, who breaks her thirty-year silence to share her story for the first time on camera revealing how she survived a brutal abduction and assault 'I got a call from my parents to say their window had been smashed and as I drove to their house, I saw them (the boys) walking from there towards the Co-op. 'When I went into the house my mum was so upset and I didn't know what to do. Advertisement 'I went to look for them and they were in the shop like nothing had happened.' Saunders said the boys had told them that someone from Cardenden had also been there at the time and so they had gone looking for him at bus stops. Saunders told the court, 'I realised what I was doing was wrong' and he then took the boys home. Solicitor David McLaughlin, representing Richard Saunders, said his client was a hard-working family man with two grown-up children and had never been involved in a court case before. Advertisement He went on, 'The background is that youngsters within the area were effectively causing havoc and had been picking on the brothers' mother and father for a number of weeks. 'On this occasion the window was shattered and it was the straw that broke the camel's back. 'He lost his temper and it was a spur of the moment thing. He and his brother made poor decisions. 'He acknowledges he stepped out of line and appears to show genuine remorse. As he put it, 'two wrongs don't make a right'.' Advertisement Sheriff Steven Borthwick said he acknowledged that the brothers' actions were out of character. He told them, 'Both of you were very concerned for the well-being of your parents, were angry and wanted to do something about it. 'However, it is completely unacceptable to do what you did. That's the sort of offence that leads to the serious consideration of the imposition of a custodial sentence. 'It's simply not acceptable for civilians to take the law into their hands, especially when children are involved.' Advertisement He sentenced both brothers to a community payback order with 150 hours of unpaid work.
The Courier
28-05-2025
- The Courier
Wednesday court round-up — Flipping the bird and stealing from a sex worker
A Fife oil and gas worker lost his temper after another driver gave him the middle finger during an overtake on the A92. , 41, got out of his car in front of the other vehicle near West Kirkcaldy Roundabout and walked aggressively towards it before the motorist drove off. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard, according to Moffat, 'one or two' others have 'flipped him the bird' since he bought a Range Rover-type vehicle. Moffat, of Kirkcaldy, was pleading guilty to an amended charge of committing a breach of the peace on October 3 last year. He had originally faced an allegation of dangerous driving. Prosecutor Brogan Moffat told the court it was around 1pm when the other male driver saw Moffat travelling in the outside lane. The accused moved his vehicle into the inside lane in front of the other car and stopped in the middle of the carriageway, left the vehicle and walked towards the other car vehicle in an aggressive manner, the fiscal said. The other driver then reversed and drove off. Defence lawyer David Cranston said Moffat had been in Dunfermline shopping and was returning home on the A92 when he overtook the other car. Mr Cranston said: 'As he passed the vehicle, the driver flicked him the middle finger and gesticulated in a way internationally acknowledged to be offensive. 'Mr Moffat was somewhat taken aback by that and pulled into the slow lane and the car passed him'. The lawyer said Moffat travelled behind the other vehicle and was 'fizzing and upset' about what happened, eventually stopping in front with the 'intention of remonstrating'. The lawyer said Moffat told him 'one or two other people have flipped him the bird' since he bought the vehicle. Mr Cranston said Moffat has worked in the oil and gas industry since he left school and is in the middle of a four-year contract working in Iraq. Sheriff Steven Borthwick fined Moffat £200, reduced from £300 due to his early guilty plea. A volunteer at a major international scouting event has been placed on the sex offenders register for repeated attacks on a fellow adult supervisor. laughed in his victim's face after groping her at a pub during the 2024 Blair Atholl Jamborette, then turned up at her tent uninvited and started stroking her leg. A Glenrothes man left his four-year-old victim bruised after biting him to teach him a lesson. appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to be sentenced after admitting the assault in November 2024. Prosecutor Catherine Stevenson explained a member of staff at the boy's school was made aware of the attack and resulting thigh injury. 'He's disclosed to her that he has ben bitten by the accused and had a bruise as a result,' Ms Stevenson said. The disclosure was reported to social work and Blair, 32, was interviewed. Ms Stevenson said: 'During the inquiry, a phone call was made to the accused. 'During this call, the accused admitted that he was responsible but didn't mean to harm him as much as he did.' The accused went on to say the boy had bitten his little brother and he 'wanted to teach him a lesson and let him know what it felt like.' His solicitor Martin McGuire said: 'It's quite an unfortunate incident and Mr Blair regrets it.' Sheriff Mark Allan placed Blair under supervision for six months and ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work in that time. A 60-year-old man convicted of a 'sustained' attack on his ex-wife's partner with a knuckle duster in Dundee has been sentenced. also bit the man on the head during the vicious assault. A Fife man who stole hundreds of pounds from a sex worker has been told to do 180 hours of unpaid work and pay his victim £500 in compensation. , 20, had been boozing at a friend's house in Methil and paid for an Uber to bring the escort to the address. After sexual contact took place, McNeil became 'unhappy' and took money – estimated to be around £500 or £600 – from the woman's handbag before she left in a 'distressed state'. Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard previously the woman's phone was damaged during the incident and she needed a replacement. She went to the home of a neighbour unknown to her and police were contacted. McNeil, of Castle Crescent, Kennoway, earlier pled guilty to removing a handbag from the woman and stealing money from her at an address in Methil on November 6 2023. It had previously been alleged McNeil assaulted the woman, including brandishing an axe at her but prosecutors accepted the deletions in the charge. Speaking in mitigation this week, defence lawyer David McLaughlin said his client described having feelings of shame and disgust about the incident. Mr McLaughlin pointed out McNeil was 18 at the time and had lost his job and partner. Sentencing, Sheriff Susan Duff said: 'You are right to feel ashamed of your behaviour. 'This was a very frightening experience for a vulnerable young woman whose phone was damaged, leaving her having to run to the home of a stranger for help. 'She was extremely distressed by your conduct'. A man who paid £20,000 to come illegally to Britain became a key player in a £6.5 million cannabis farm brazenly located on busy Kirkcaldy High Street. ,24, was arrested after police caught him at a former branch of WH Smith in Kirkcaldy in 2022.
The Courier
23-05-2025
- The Courier
Groundworker led police on 'idiotic' Kirkcaldy chase
A Glenrothes groundworker led police on a chase through Kirkcaldy after they tried to stop him for not wearing a seatbelt. Scott Johnstone sped off and carried out dangerous overtaking manoeuvres as he tried to flee. The 29-year-old eventually stopped the van he was driving and made off on foot but was caught nearby. Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard he was uninsured at the time. Fiscal depute Eve McKaig said: 'At 10:30 am police officers with an unmarked police vehicle were carrying out a patrol on Dunnikier Road when they observed a Ford Transit approaching the roundabout and observed the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. 'The police have stopped in a position in front of it to get it to stop. 'The position has made it clear the intended to speak to the accused but the van has driven around the police vehicle. 'They activated their blue lights. The pursuit continued with the accused driving at speeds of 60-to-65mph in a 40 limit. 'He carried out overtaking manoeuvre of two preceding vehicles, crossing the central line and into the path of oncoming vehicles.' After Johnstone had stopped and run off, officers discovered he had two passengers in the vehicle. Johnstone's defence agent said his client recognised the folly of his actions. He said: 'He fully accepts his idiotic behaviour and regrets his actions. 'He was using the van to go to a job. He doesn't have an explanation for why he drove off.' Johnstone, of Alexander Road, admitted driving without insurance and driving dangerously on Dunnikier Road, Kirkcaldy, on March 27. Sheriff Robert More told him: 'I don't doubt you panicked. 'It wasn't just bad driving, it was a deliberate course of driving you embarked on. 'If you had gone into another vehicle or struck a pedestrian you would have been in the High Court and looking at double figures for a jail term. 'I don't think there's morally much difference between you and someone who does strike someone.' He disqualified Johnstone from driving for 12 months and until he resits the extended test. He also ordered him to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.
