Heartbreaking tributes to ‘loving gentle giant' found dead at Scots council headquarters
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
HEARTBREAKING tributes have been paid to a "loving" man who was found dead at Edinburgh's council headquarters.
He has been named locally as Sean Stephen following his mystery death at the City Chambers on the capital's High Street.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
Sean Stephen has been named locally following his death in Edinburgh
Credit: GoFundme
2
The 38-year-old was found unresponsive at the City Chambers
Credit: Getty
Emergency crews raced to the scene at around 9.10am after police received a report of an unresponsive man inside the building's customer support hub.
The 38-year-old was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
His death is currently being treated as "unexplained" by cops, but it is not believed to be suspicious.
A fundraiser has now been set up by one of Sean's close friends, who paid tribute to the "loving gentle giant".
He was well-known throughout the southside of Edinburgh, and his friends and family have been left "absolutely devastated".
They said Sean had been missing since July 1, with multiple posts shared on social media during a frantic search.
The post read: "I'm looking to raise some funds towards Sean's funeral costs. It's to lift a bit of pressure off his wife Julie and family.
"Sean went missing on the July 1, 2025 and unfortunately was found dead on July 7.
"This was very unexpected as he's only 38 years old and had his full life ahead of him.
"He was the most loving gentle giant you'd ever meet. He was born and bred in Southside area of Edinburgh and was well known by a lot of people.
Man, 39, dies in hospital after 'major incident' in Scots town as cops lock down street & arrest suspect
"I was like a sister to Sean, we are absolutely devastated that he was found dead unexplained.
"Any help would be appreciated to give him the best send off he deserves. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Edinburgh City Council's website is urging locals to use the city's customer hub as the High Street office is closed this week.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 9.10am on Monday, 7 July, we received a report of an unresponsive person at a premises on High Street, Edinburgh.
"Emergency services attended and a man was pronounced dead at the scene.
"The death is being treated as unexplained but not believed to be suspicious and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
I woke up with Ted Bundy looming over me with log… he shattered my jaw & left me to die but I survived in stroke of luck
'I remember squinting into the dark, not wearing my glasses, and seeing this black shadow standing above me' BRUSH WITH DEATH I woke up with Ted Bundy looming over me with log… he shattered my jaw & left me to die but I survived in stroke of luck Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KATHY Kleiner Rubin was in her second year at university when she was mercilessly attacked with a log by depraved serial killer, Ted Bundy. The Florida-born author is one of the few women to have survived an encounter with the sadist, who was later found guilty of rape, necrophilia, and murder. 11 Kathy Kleiner Rubin's first Christmas after she was attacked by Ted Bundy in 1978 Credit: Kathy Kleiner Rubin 11 Kathy (front right) with her Chi Omega sorority sisters Credit: Kathy Kleiner Rubin 11 Theodore Bundy, more commonly known as Ted, waved to a TV camera following his indictment for the murders of Lisa Levy and Margaret Bowman Credit: Getty Among his victims were 21-year-old Margaret Bowman and 20-year-old Lisa Levy, who were murdered just minutes before the 33-year-old launched his assault on Kathy. Bundy was executed in 1989, when he admitted to murdering at least 30 women in his four-year-long reign of horror. But his notoriety has lived on, with books and films often depicting the sadist as a charismatic killer who lured his victims with his good looks. Decades later, Kathy has revealed how she has found peace by giving a voice to his victims and exposing Bundy's "true" nature. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, she described him as a "loser and a sociopath" who craved the world's attention. NIGHT OF THE ATTACK When Kathy was attacked, she was a second-year student at Florida State University, living in Chi Omega sorority house with girls 'who felt like sisters'. She had spent the afternoon at a church friend's wedding but decided to head back early with her dormmate, Karen Chandler, to study for her calculus exam the following Monday. The pair's room was not dissimilar to any other dorm room: two single beds pushed against opposite walls, separated by a small trunk and a large bay window with curtains that remained open 'all the time'. When they turned the lights off at around 11:30pm, Kathy fell straight to sleep. In the early hours of the morning, she awoke to the 'swish' sound of the carpet. I'm a criminologist - Ted Bundy stood no chance against one particular type of victim, it's why he never targeted them 'I remember squinting into the dark, not wearing my glasses, and seeing this black shadow standing above me, looking at me. 'I was just waking up a little bit and he had that log in his hand. "I can close my eyes and I can see my room. And I can see him standing over me. And this is something I'll never forget," she said. Wielding the same log he had used to kill her two much-adored sorority sisters, and which he had stolen from the house's fireplace, Bundy struck Kathy's jaw. The sheer force shattered the bone and splintered her chin - exposing her teeth and almost severing her tongue. "When he hit me, my first feeling was like hitting a bag of potatoes. You know, it didn't hurt," she added. But it wasn't long before adrenaline turned to agonising pain. 11 Kathy has found peace by giving a voice to Bundy's victims Credit: Kathy Kleiner Rubin 11 Kathy struggled in the period after the attack but held onto her faith to keep her going Credit: Kathy Kleiner Rubin 11 Kathy married Scott Rubin, who she has been with for over three decades and who has been a 'wonderful father' to her son, Michael Credit: Kathy Kleiner Rubin "It hurt so bad. The most intense pain I have ever felt," she recalled. Moments later, a rustle in the neighbouring bed turned Bundy's attention to Karen. Tripping over Kathy's trunk, he stumbled to his next victim, before mercilessly bludgeoning her too. In a stroke of immense fortune, the pair were saved when a couple returning home parked up beside the sorority house. I thought I was yelling and screaming for help but all I was doing was making gurgling sounds from all the blood in my mouth Kathy Kleiner Rubin The headlights flooded the room with light, startling Bundy, who ran away. Kathy said: 'I was moaning and groaning and I thought I was yelling and screaming for help but all I was doing was making gurgling sounds from all the blood in my mouth. 'He came back over to my side of the room so I tucked myself into the smallest ball. I thought if he didn't see me, he wouldn't kill me.' 'He looked at me. He raised his arm up over his head, but just as he was about to hit me again, a bright light shone through our window, 'He got real antsy and started moving around. Then he ran out of the room." I thought if he didn't see me, he wouldn't kill me Kathy Kleiner Rubin Whimpering, Kathy tried calling for help but managed no more than a few "gurgling sounds" through all of the blood. Karen was able to stumble to get help as Kathy passed out from the pain. She recalled: 'I woke up and a police officer was standing at the head of my bed looking at me. 'I touched my face and it was warm with blood. I was in excruciating pain – it felt like daggers and knives. But he just told me 'it's going to be OK.'' "I knew, having been so scared that this person was going to take care of me." PATH TO HAPPINESS Kathy never returned to university and spent the next nine weeks with her jaw wired shut at her parents' house in Miami. Therapy wasn't an option for the young girl who was raised by Cuban parents, where sweeping problems under the rug was the "done thing". Instead, her parents did all they could to help her physically recover and protect her from the trauma of what happened. "My mum wanted to shield me from the news and hearing about my sorority sisters so she would take the newspaper and cut all of the articles out that would mention Bundy," she said. One day they were a victim and the next day they became a survivor Kathy Kleiner Rubin Meanwhile, Kathy took "baby steps" to heal from the psychological wounds left from Bundy's attack - but also from the anger and sadness of leaving behind her freedom and friends at university. She said: "I walked outside and felt the sun on my face and looked up at the trees and saw each individual leaf, that's part of the branch, that's part of the tree. "And looking at the bugs on the ground and seeing how they interact. That's life. "And I wanted to be part of life. I wanted to be part of what was so natural." Kathy recognised exposure therapy would be crucial in her path to recovery so she got a job working at a lumber yard, where she would be surrounded by men everyday. 11 Kathy now lives in Florida with her husband Scott Credit: Kathy Kleiner Rubin 11 Kathy said sharing her story with the world has helped her heal and connect with other survivors Credit: Kathy Kleiner Rubin While she grew progressively less scared, dark thoughts of a figure standing behind her lingered. Leaning on her faith, she imagined herself walking away from the darkness - each day, taking one step closer to the "light" at the end of the road. She has since co-authored a book with writer Emilie Lebau-Luchessi, in which she revisited in painfully vivid detail the events of that night. Although challenging, Kathy said sharing her story with the world has helped her heal and connect with other survivors. "They just need to know that one day they were a victim and the next day they became a survivor. "That survivor has to live the rest of their life and they can talk about it and they can feel it but they shouldn't dwell on it. "They need to move on and and not let this put them in a box but just take baby steps to heal themselves," she said. 11 Kathy graduating from high school Credit: Kathy Kleiner Rubin 11 Kathy in 1990, almost a decade after the attack Credit: Kathy Kleiner Rubin
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Much-loved pet shop forced to close after more than 60 years ‘amid cost pressures'
Another store may open in a different town SHUTTERS DOWN Much-loved pet shop forced to close after more than 60 years 'amid cost pressures' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BELOVED family-owned pet shop has been forced to shut down after 66 years of business, due to "cost pressures". Dabners pet shop in Croydon is set to close for the last time on Saturday, August 16. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Owner Mark Oram, 61, has worked at the pet shop for 40 years Credit: BPM It first opened on Surrey Street in 1959, and was inherited by Mark who took over the business from his father. Rising costs and decreasing footfall to the store has lead to the store shutting down, which Mark says was exacerbated by the government's autumn budget last year. In one month, Dabners experienced a 30 per cent fall in customers walking through its doors, the greatest drop the store has seen in the 40 years Mark has worked there. He said to BPM Media: 'It's so sad and very disheartening. 'I've worked on this my whole life and to see it go down this way is horrible." With the closure, Mark is now looking to open up another pet shop, likely out of Croydon town centre. Rampant crime and antisocial behaviour in the area has made him concerned about continuing business in the area. The pet shop owner is therefore looking to set up another store in Horsham, West Sussex. Mark told MyLondon: 'Croydon feels a bit lawless. "Shoplifting is worse than ever but we're not getting any support. Pet owners race to B&M for hilariously-named designer doggie accessories, including Poochie Vuitton and Furrsace Last year, the businessowner had a knife pulled on him in the middle of Surrey Street as he tried to stop a shoplifter from stealing a dog harness. Despite allegedly capturing the incident on video by a member of the public, Scotland Yard claimed they did not have enough evidence to prosecute the suspect. Mark added: "If we catch one [shoplifter] we're just told to email the police who never do much about it." The Metropolitan Police in response have said they are focusing on the most profilic offenders. They also contend that shoplifting in Croydon town centre has dropped by 31 per cent over the past six months. Metropolitan Police's neighbourhood policing lead for Croydon, Superintendent Mitch Carr, added: "Croydon is one of 20 town centres and high streets across London that will see enhanced police and partner activity this summer. "There will be increased police patrols, intelligence-led plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas, and officers will relentlessly target wanted and prolific offenders who commit offences, particularly shoplifting and anti-social behaviour." Mark also thinks Croydon Council could do more to support independent traders, and return the area a top shopping location. He said: 'Ten years ago people used to travel here from other areas, now we're only serving locals - and some of them even go to Bromley or other parts of South London for better shops." Croydon Council has described the closure of Dabners "disappointing", and recognised the contribution it has made to the community over the past six decades. A spokesperson from the council said: "We understand these are challenging times for retailers nationally, particularly independent businesses. "That's why Croydon Council continues to deliver a range of business support programmes, funded by external grants." They have planned to invest £4.4 million into an "Amplifying Surrey Street programme" which hopes to improve market infrastructure and greenery in the area, as well as deliver a programme of events that can help drive footfall.
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Horrified couple find live maggots in their Morrisons lunch
A hungry couple were horrified to discover live maggots wriggling in their cheesy lunch - only for Morrisons to offer an 'insulting £3 compensation'. (Image: Kennedy News and Media) Recruitment firm consultant Cato, was "disgusted" by the discovery and immediately binned the £3 purchase. The 54-year-old said she then contacted Morrisons' live chat service to inform them of the "gross" find - but was "insulted" to be offered just a £3 voucher for her bug troubles. The couple have vowed never to buy their Brie from the supermarket chain again. Cato, from Taunton, Somerset, said: "Sean stopped in the Morrisons Daily garage to grab some lunch for the day. "We've never really shopped there before, we have Brie once in a while as a little treat. "Sean said 'your lunch is ready and by the way I don't think we'll have [the Brie]'. "I opened the Brie and thought 'what the heck? That is disgusting'. I stuck the brie in the bin but kept the wrapping. "It must've been left out, it can't have been left properly in the fridge. Someone must've left it on the shelf and perhaps it's been left out. "It's gross. I thought we should really let them know that that's not on. We could've easily eaten it. "It wasn't anything to do with the brand, it was how it was kept outside the fridge." Cato contacted Morrisons via their live chat service on Facebook to inform them of the issue, but was shocked when the retailer simply offered the couple a £3 refund. Cato said: "I contacted Morrisons on Facebook message, asked what to do and said it's dangerous for other people. "It was clear after numerous messages that I was talking to a bot. They offered a £3 voucher but I don't think it's about the money. "I do feel like I've tried contacting them a couple of times. But I feel like they couldn't be bothered to take it seriously. "The £3 refund was a bit of an insult. I just thought it was stupid really. I thought they would've taken it a bit more seriously. "We won't be buying Brie from there again." Recommended reading A Morrisons spokesman said: "We have been in regular contact with the customer to apologise for the delay while our franchise partner carried out its investigation. "We are now confident this was an isolated incident but have been back in touch with the customer this week to offer them a further gesture of goodwill." Président Cheese have been contacted for a comment.
