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Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Roofer broke 94-year-old woman's neck after ploughing Transit van into her car
Jamie Forrester crashed his Ford Transit head on to another car on the opposing carriageway in May 2022. A 94-year-old woman was left with broken neck and ribs after a self-employed roofer smashed his work van into the front of a car she was travelling in. Jamie Forrester, 32, had cannabis in his system when he ploughed his Ford Transit into the Volkswagen Tiguan which was on the opposite side of Lochlibo Road in Uplawmoor, on May 9, 2022. The van's back tyres were under-inflated and, on the day of the horror smash, it was raining and the road surface was wet. Procurator fiscal depute Dana Barclay yesterday told Paisley Sheriff Court: 'Around 2.10pm, Mr Wallace, aged 67 at the time, and Ms Wallace, now deceased, aged 94 at the time, was travelling west on Lochlibo Road near to Neilston Road. 'Mr Wallace was driving his Volkswagen Tiguan with his mother, Ms Wallace as the front passenger. At the same time, the accused was driving his white Ford Transit east on Lochlibo Road. 'As the accused crossed over the railway bridge, which is on a sharp right over a hillcrest onto a left turn, he lost control of the vehicle, crossing onto the opposite side of the road and head on into Mr Wallace's vehicle. 'Emergency services were contacted by people who came across the two crashed vehicles.' Ms Wallace was trapped within the vehicle and had suffered serious injuries. Forrester passed a roadside breath test but tested positive for cannabis and was arrested. Crash investigation officers attended the scene. Ms Barclay added: 'The accused was taken to Govan police office were he provided a specimen of blood for analysis. The blood results showed there was 5.4mg of delta-9tetrahdrocannabinol in the accused's system which is over the 2mg limit.' The court heard Forrester's work van was examined with both back tyres under-inflated meaning it was 'more likely for the tyre rubber to twist and not fully grip the road surface'. A collision investigation report said the collision occurred due to 'one or a combination of factors'. They were Forrester not maintaining his vehicle, allowing the rear tyre pressures to fall below the recommended values; low pressure in the rear tyres resulting in them being less efficient at maintaining adhesion with the road surface in wet conditions; and he was above the legal limit for cannabis. Ms Barclay explained the woman sustained broken bones to her neck and her ribs and was admitted to hospital for a number of weeks due to her age and frailty. She died some months after the incident in hospital. The male driver sustained whiplash, a burn to his head and bruises to his arm. He was treated at A&E and released that day. Defence agent Urfan Dar asked for reports and Forrester's bail to be continued. Mr Dar said his client knew the road and had been up since 6am to carry out sheeting and cladding work before calling it a day at lunchtime due to rain. He added: 'There is no suggestion of his impairment. He accepts he had a cannabis joint the night before.' The court heard Forrester's back tyres were around 18 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) and 23 PSI, compared to the front tyres which were at 30 PSI. Sheriff Brian Mohan blasted: 'He drove dangerously here and he's had three years to admit it. 'This was a 94-year-old person who was seriously injured, he drove dangerously, had cannabis in his system and got up at 6am and done a day's work before this happened. 'Broken bones to the neck and ribs can't have helped at the age of 94.' Sentence was adjourned until next month for reports. Forrester, of Cedar Drive in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, had bail continued meantime.
Daily Record
19-07-2025
- Daily Record
Doctor and husband jailed for selling stolen NHS PPE on eBay during lockdown
Omer and Attiya Sheikh made almost £8,000 from selling the PPE equipment they knew had been stolen from the NHS. A doctor and her husband were each jailed for 10 months yesterday after selling stolen hospital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on eBay during the first covid lockdown. Crooks Attiya Sheikh and husband Omer Sheikh generated almost £8,000 from selling PPE, that they knew had been pinched from the NHS, on four eBay accounts between May and October 2020. The couple were exposed after NHS Scotland supplier Fannin spotted its products for sale on the auction website. Detectives found that the couple had been selling the much-needed PPE online for £15 to £20 when 'the world was in a heightened state of fear and anxiety' at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The pair were sentenced to 10 months in prison with Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill saying the doctor had committed an 'egregious breach of trust' while working at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, and that the offence 'merits a custodial sentence'. Sheriff Gill slammed the couple and told them: 'Mrs Sheikh, you are 46, a health professional and at the time were a doctor with the NHS. At this time, the NHS was facing an unprecedented crisis, there was an extreme shortage of PPE, not only in this country but globally. 'As a doctor, you clearly knew this PPE was required for your colleagues and the safety indeed of their families. It is difficult to imagine a more egregious breach of trust not only in respect of your colleagues but of the general public.' 'You sold this stolen PPE for financial gain. Mr Sheikh, I don't differentiate between you and your wife. You done this together for sheer greed.' Paisley Sheriff Court heard Attiya Sheikh worked as a doctor at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, while her 48-year-old husband worked front-of-house at a family restaurant. Dr Sheikh was sacked by the NHS the day after she pleaded guilty to the 'abhorrent offence.' The town's court previously heard cops raided the Sheikh family home in Thornliebank in October 2020. During the search, 121 boxes of PPE, belonging to the NHS, were found in the couple's attic. The procurator fiscal depute told the court: 'Officers searched the attic and found 121 boxes of blue medical gloves, facemasks and electronic equipment that included a silver iPhone.' The value of the stolen items was put at £7,827. Attiya Sheikh's lawyer, John Scullion KC, told Paisley Sheriff Court that his client bitterly regretted her actions. He said: 'She acknowledges the significant breach of trust the offence represents.' Faye Cook, procurator fiscal for North Strathclyde, said of the case: "This was a particularly egregious crime. 'The public put their trust in medical practitioners. As a hospital doctor, Attiya Sheikh betrayed that trust at a time of acute need when patients and NHS staff relied heavily on the availability of PPE. 'For her and her husband to benefit financially from this criminal conduct will shock many people. But now they have both been brought to account for their crimes and must face the consequences of their actions.' Gordon Young, head of NHS Scotland counter fraud services, added: 'This successful prosecution reaffirms NHSScotland's commitment to safeguarding vital resources for health service provision as intended by the taxpayer.'
Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Daily Record
Doctor and husband who pocketed almost £8k selling stolen NHS PPE during lockdown jailed
Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill told Paisley Sheriff Court the offence "merits a custodial sentence". A doctor and her husband have today each been jailed for 10 months after selling stolen hospital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on Ebay during the first covid lockdown. Crooks Attiya Sheikh and husband Omer Sheikh generated almost £8,000 from selling PPE, that they knew had been pinched from the NHS, on four Ebay accounts between May and October 2020. The crooks were this morning sentenced to 10 months in prison with Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill stating the offence "merits a custodial sentence". Sheriff Gill slammed the couple and told them: "Mrs Sheikh, you are 46, a health professional and at the time were a doctor with the NHS. "At this time, the NHS was facing an unprecedented crisis, there was an extreme shortage of PPE, not only in this country but globally. "As a doctor, you clearly knew this PPE was required for your colleagues and the safety indeed of their families. You sold this stolen PPE for financial gain. "Mr Sheikh, I don't differentiate between you and your wife. You done this together for sheer greed." Paisley Sheriff Court heard 45-year-old Attiya Sheikh works as a doctor at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, while her 48-year-old husband works front-of-house at a family restaurant. The town's court heard cops raided the Sheikh family home in Thornliebank in October 2020 but Mrs Sheikh wasn't home at the time. During the search 121 boxes of PPE, belonging to the NHS, were found in the couple's attic. The procurator fiscal depute told he court: 'Officers searched the attic and found 121 boxes of blue medical gloves, facemasks and electronic equipment that included a silver iPhone. 'It was noted from the officers the gloves were from a supplier named Fannin Ltd. They are a care essential brand company that sold a brand of gloves to the NHS. Fannin UK Ltd make medical products and PPE. 'Because of what was found in the property, Mrs Sheikh, who wasn't at home at the time of the search, was contacted. 'At this point, she was eager to speak about what had been found and she was advised by an officer it wasn't appropriate to speak at that time and she would be contacted at a later date to do so. 'Later that day, Mrs Sheikh contacted the officer and the call was put on speaker. 'She started to discuss gloves that were found and, before proceeding, she was cautioned and proceeded to state that she had obtained the gloves from an individual from within Hairmyres Hospital and she had seen his NHS identification badge and that she had a suspicion she knew where the stock of gloves came from.' The court heard Dr Sheikh was asked by officers for the name of the NHS worker she claimed had given her the gloves. The fiscal depute added: 'She provided the name Andrew Ferguson. 'Enquiries carried out concluded there was no Andrew Ferguson found to work at the hospital. 'Further investigations were carried out by officers and uncovered through Ebay accounts that, during May 30 to October 7, 2020, both accused had been selling PPE on Ebay to various individuals. 'The value generated from this was £7,857.' Prior to the case calling for trial at Paisley Sheriff Court, both Attiya Sheikh and Omer Sheikh pleaded guilty to the reset of PPE that belonged to the NHS that had been 'dishonestly appropriated' by persons unknown to the prosecutor.
Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Daily Record
Barrhead brute pinned down and strangled partner after row
An argument between the pair earlier in the evening continued when he returned home, Paisley Sheriff Court heard. A Barrhead man who pinned his partner down and strangled her could be ordered to carry out a programme for domestic abusers. Brute Connor Forrest had been on a night out and, when he returned to their Paisley home on May 18, he and his partner continued an argument that had been started earlier that evening. The woman decided she didn't want to argue with the 27-year-old thug any longer and, when she tried to stop the argument, Forrest, now of Divernia Way, climbed on top of her, seized her by the neck, pinned her to the bed and strangled her. The 'highly distressed' woman was able to get Forrest off of her and used a 'pre-arranged de-escalation technique' and asked him to take the dog for a walk. The procurator fiscal depute yesterday told Paisley Sheriff Court the couple had been in a five-year relationship which came to an end as a result of this incident. He explained: 'Around 4am on May 18, the accused returned home to the property in Paisley's Arthur Street after a night out. 'The female was within the property on the phone to a friend when both the accused and the female continued an argument which had started earlier that evening. The female decided she was unwilling to engage further with the accused. 'At this time, the accused climbed on top of her, placed his hands around her neck and strangled her for a few seconds until she managed to remove him from her. 'The woman asked the accused to take the dog a walk which was a pre-arranged de-escalation technique. Around 4.40am, the police were called and, when they arrived, from outside they could hear screaming and crying. 'Officers also observed the woman to be highly distressed, highly shaken and unable to speak because she was highly upset. 'The accused was cautioned and informed of his arrest where he made no reply and was taken to Greenock police station. The woman suffered superficial scratching and bruising.' Defence agent Kirsty McGeehan told the court background reports had been prepared by the social work department with a recommendation made. She said: 'The writer has suggested an assessment be carried out on his suitability to undertake the 'Up2U' programme, which is a domestic abuse behaviour programme. It would be beneficial if the court had this assessment available to them to consider when sentencing.' She added: 'He has no intention of getting back together with this woman.' Sheriff Cooke deferred sentence for Forrest to be of good behaviour and to allow an assessment to be carried out on his suitability to undertake the 'Up2U' domestic abuse programme. His bail was continued and he will return to court for sentencing on August 29. Consideration of a non-harassment order was continued to the same day.
Daily Record
17-07-2025
- Daily Record
Drug dealer caught with £6,000 worth of cocaine in Paisley "given a chance"
Cops snared Charles Caldwell using 'counter surveillance' moves while officers followed his car. A drug dealer caught after cops spotted him using 'counter surveillance techniques' while driving has been 'given a chance' by a sheriff. Charles Caldwell was snared by police driving out of a Paisley street in his black BMW on January 18 last year. Officers, in their unmarked car, followed the 32-year-old as he drove from the town to Hillington – changing lanes, slowing his speed and speeding off. When stopped, Caldwell's passenger got out of the car with a strong stench of cannabis subsequently detected. Procurator fiscal depute Jason Stark previously told Paisley Sheriff Court cops found cocaine within Caldwell's car and stashed in his underwear. He explained: 'Officers on plain-clothes patrol in an unmarked vehicle observed a black BMW exiting Dee Crescent in Paisley. 'Officers followed the vehicle to outside The Wheel Specialist in Hillington. Throughout the journey, police observed the vehicle to change lanes on a number of occasions, slow speed and then accelerate sporadically which police believed was counter surveillance techniques. 'Police approached the vehicle and observed the accused as the driver and another male as the front seat passenger. The passenger exited the vehicle and police detected a strong smell of cannabis emanating from within. 'Both males were informed they were being detained and cautioned at common law and a search of the accused was carried out.' The court heard officers discovered a knotted white bag containing a 'white rock substance' from Caldwell's jacket pocket, two mobile phones from his trousers pocket and a white knotted bag containing white powder within his underwear. A search of the car was carried out with two white bags containing numerous white knotted bags which had white powder discovered. The court heard a forensic drug expert estimated that, should the Class A drug that was recovered in Caldwell's car be sub-divided into the 'lowest recovered recognised street deal of 1g', it has the potential to generate approximately £6,190. Mr Stark added: 'The officers confirmed that it is their opinion that the cocaine in this case is excessive for personal use with the majority of which being sub-divided into recognised street deals and would be for sale or supply.' Caldwell admitted to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, a Class A drug. His defence agent told the town's court he became involved in supply to 'repay drug debt'. She added: 'He accepts this type of offending impacts the community and wants nothing more to do with drugs. He accrued drug debt due to his own drug use and made the wrong decision to sell drugs. 'He was given the phones from those who he was in debt to, and they told him how to wrap the drugs and how to sell them.' But Sheriff Brian Mohan blasted: 'You want me to believe this when you've got previous for drugs? 'I'm not entirely sure if you have the difficulties you say you do or if you just say the first thing that comes into your head. 'You offer £5 per week which is nowhere near enough to recognise the significance of this. I'm going to give you a chance. If you're not playing ball, you'll go to jail.' As a 'direct alternative' to custody, Caldwell, of Castlegreen Street, Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work in the community. In addition he was made subject to supervision of the social work department for 12 months. A review hearing of the order was assigned for October 13.
