Fife Reporter (2026)

07/01/2026

Serial offender back in court after leaving victim "shaking and in tears" after targeting her at bus station. Full story on our website.
http://www.fifereporter.com/

05/01/2026

A few wintry scenes for the start of '26.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year and all the very best for 2026.

24/12/2025

MAN DIES IN FIFE FIRE TRAGEDY

A man and a dog have died after a fire at a property in Fife.

Emergency services were called to a blaze at Brodie Court in Glenrothes at around 1.30am this morning.

Police later confirmed a man was pronounced dead at the scene and a dog also died as a result of the fire.

22/12/2025

BUNGLING ROBBER LEFT CALLING CARD AFTER TRYING TO BREAK INTO STORE

A bungled attempt to break into a store using garden tools ended with the crook leaving behind a card with his name and photo on it.

Callum Mackay had used a garden fork and shovel in his unsuccessful efforts to prise open the shop’s shutters.

A worker arriving to open the shop found the garden tools lying along with a bag containing a bus pass.

Mackay repeatedly threatened retail workers who stopped his thieving antics.

He had also gone shoplifting from store to store in Dunfermline. He wandered around on a thieving spree after taking Va**um and crack co***ne.

He caused a disturbance at Tesco, throwing a bottle and threatening staff then went to Marks and Spencer where he stole alcohol.

He finished by grabbing two gift-sets from the Perfume Shop and running off with them.

Mackay, of Main Street, Lochgelly and previously, Tarves Place, Glenrothes, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court by video-link from jail having admitted a catalogue of offending.

On 1st September he damaged metal shutters and attempted to break into the Morrison’s at McColl’s store in North Street, Lochgelly.

Depute fiscal Catherine Stevenson said a worker turned up to open the shop at 4.45am and found damage to the shutters.

Lying on the ground were a garden fork and a shovel, which were apparently used in an attempt to prise open the shutters.

Also discarded was a backpack and found inside was a Scottish national entitlement card with all Mackay’s details.

He also admitted that on 16th September at Tesco, Winterthur Lane, Dunfermline, he shouted and swore towards two employees, acted aggressively, repeatedly made threats and threw a glass bottle.

At Marks and Spencer, Kingsgate, he stole a quantity of alcohol.

Then at the Perfume Shop, Kingsgate, he stole a quantity of fragrance sets.

The court was told the gift-sets were valued at £157 and at Mark and Spencer he tried to steal bottles of vodka and a bottle of brandy but was thwarted by security staff who recovered the items.

On 7th November at the Co-op, Bank Street, Lochgelly, he brandished bottles of wine at a shop worker.

On two occasions on 10th November at Tesco, Queensferry Road, Rosyth, he stole alcohol.

He also made threats towards a shop worker, made threats of violence and brandished a bottle of alcohol at him.

On 12th November at Aldi, Nightingale Place, Dunfermline, he stole nine tablet computers and a quantity of alcohol.

On 25th November in High Street, Cowdenbeath, he stole fragrance and a bag from Semi-Chem then toiletries and a candle from Boots.

Sheriff Krista Johnston jailed Mackay for 16 months.

21/12/2025

SECOND DEATH FOLLOWING FIFE CRASH

A second person has died in hospital following a car crash in Fife.

The two-vehicle collision occurred at 11.10pm on Friday night on the B981, between Cluny and the Chapel junction roundabout.

A 48-year-old woman, who was driving a Volkswagen Polo, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three passengers from the car were taken to hospital but one, a 64-year-old man, sadly died from his injuries this morning,

A 33-year-old woman, who was driving the other vehicle was arrested.

She was also taken to hospital but has been discharged.

20/12/2025

WOMAN DIES IN FIFE CRASH TRAGEDY

A 48-year-old woman has died and three passengers were taken to hospital following a two-car crash in Fife.

The collision involved a involved a black Nissan Qashqai and a white Volkswagen Polo at around 11.10pm last night on the B981, between Cluny and the Chapel junction roundabout.

Police said the Polo driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three passengers from the car were taken to hospital, where one remains in a serious condition.

The 33-year-old female driver of the Qashqai was arrested in connection with a road traffic offence.

Sergeant Louise Birrell said, “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who died at this extremely difficult time.

“Enquiries into the crash are ongoing, and I am appealing to anyone who was in the area and witnessed anything around the time to contact officers.”

19/12/2025

FIFE WOMAN STABBED HER PARTNER WITH KNIVES

A 48-year-old woman stabbed her partner with two knives in Glenrothes.

The victim suffered deep wounds to his arms during the attack.

Kerry Ward then punched a police officer in the face at Dunfermline police station.

Ward, currently a prisoner, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court by video-link.

She admitted that on 22nd August, at Church Street, Glenrothes, she assaulted her partner by repeatedly striking him on the head and body with two knives to his severe injury, permanent impairment, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.

Then she assaulted a female police constable at Church Street, by kicking her on the body.

At Dunfermline police station she assaulted the same officer by punching her on the head.

Ward has more than 40 previous convictions and has served jail terms.

The court was told the victim was Ward’s on/off partner.

The reason given for the assault was that Ward became irate when her partner wanted to go to bed and she did not.

She then attacked the man with two knives, badly injuring his arm and also catching his nose and thigh.

The man locked himself into the toilet to get away from her and the police were called.

Ward then pushed an officer on the chest and was arrested. Taken to Dunfermline police station she then punched the same officer on the mouth.

The man was taken to hospital and a doctor said the wounds could have been life-threatening had they not been treated.

Sheriff Steven Borthwick called for reports and Ward will remain in custody until sentencing on 22nd January.

19/12/2025

SERIAL SHOPLIFTER AVOIDS PUNISHMENT FOR THIEVING JAUNTS TO FIFE

An Edinburgh shoplifter stole around £2000 worth of goods during repeated visits to Dunfermline.

The culprit was a 53-year-old serial offender, who has a history of thieving in Edinburgh and decided to target stores in Dunfermline.

His main target was alcohol and his well-organised stealing sprees were usually not detected at the time, only when CCTV was checked later.

A “brain injury” was blamed for Brett Shand’s offending and he managed to avoid much in the way of punishment when he appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Brett, of Trafalgar Lane, Bonnington, Edinburgh, admitted a string of offences.

On 29th September last year at Asda, St Leonards Street, Dunfermline, he stole a quantity of alcohol.

On 17th and 30th May at Tesco, Winterthur Lane, Dunfermline, he stole a quantity of alcohol.

On 13th June on 13th June at HMV, Kingsgate Centre, he stole a turntable and a bag.

Depute fiscal Catherine Stevenson gave values for his various visits which came to over £2000.

Defence solicitor Colin Severin said his client had suffered a brain injury which has “increased his level of impulsivity”.

However, he conceded Shand “knew perfectly well” that his offending would catch up with him at some point and had “carried on offending regardless”.

Sheriff Krista Johnston told Shand, “You’re more than a nuisance to society by stealing this amount of goods from stores and you have a record that is burgeoning.”

She imposed a community payback order with six months of supervision.

This week police put out a statement about a crackdown on shoplifting in Dunfermline saying, "The message is clear, individuals planning on coming to our city to shoplift should think again.

"Offenders will be identified, traced and dealt with accordingly."

17/12/2025

VIOLENT BULLY EXPOSED BY "BRAVERY" OF YOUNG GIRL (7)

A violent offender abused his wife when she arrived in Fife from Pakistan and also struck a young girl in the face.

The culprit was 46-year-old Muhammad Adnanzia, of Malcolm Street, Dunfermline.

He claimed the allegations against him were a conspiracy but was found guilty after a trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Adnanzia’s behaviour was revealed by the courageous actions of the young girl, praised by a sheriff.

Adnanzia was convicted of a charge that between 31st March last year and 1st May this year, he engaged in an abusive course of conduct towards his wife.

He grabbed her hair to her injury, threw a glass at a wall, threw food around the room, repeatedly struck her with a shoe, repeatedly struck her to the face, seized her by the neck and threw a shoe at her, all to her injury.

He was also convicted of a charge that on an occasion between 24th November last year and 30th April, at his home he assaulted a girl, then aged seven years, by slapping her to the face to her injury.

Adnanzia, from Pakistan, moved to Scotland in 2016. He worked as a taxi driver but suffered a stroke, he told the court.

His wife had moved here from Pakistan last year.

Adnanzia appeared in the dock accompanied by a translator.

The violence came to light after the girl told her schoolteacher she had been slapped twice in the face and an investigation began.

The young girl then encouraged Adnanzia’s wife to tell the police what had been happening.

Adnanzia claimed there had been a conspiracy against him planned by his wife and her friend.

He also said that the young girl had been “brainwashed” to make the claims against him.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf put it to Adnanzia that his evidence had been lies from start to finish, which he denied.

However, Sheriff Mark Allan did not believe Adnanzia either and found him guilty.

The sheriff paid tribute to the “bravery” of the young girl in bringing the matter to light “in incredibly difficult circumstances for her”.

He called for reports and Adnanzia will be sentenced on 9th February.

17/12/2025

FEMALE PASSENGER CHOKED BY VIOLENT THUG ON TRAIN TO FIFE

A female was choked by a drunken violent offender on a late-night train from Edinburgh to Fife.

The victim, who did not know her attacker, had been enjoying birthday celebrations with friends before trouble broke out on the journey home with numerous passengers getting involved in the disturbance.

Aaron Murphy, 23, currently a prisoner at Glenochil, was given extra jail time for this latest offence when he appeared in the dock at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

Murphy admitted that on 1st February on a train travelling between Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy, he repeatedly shouted, swore, repeatedly made threats of violence, challenged passengers to fight and struggled with police officers.

He also assaulted a female on the train by seizing her by the throat and compressed it, restricting her breathing, to her injury.

Depute fiscal Sarah Smith said the victim was on the train with friends, having been at a birthday celebration.

Just after 11pm, Murphy got on the train and appeared to be intoxicated.

He was there with his partner and they began kissing.

Shortly afterwards the couple appear to have fallen out and she was seen shouting at Murphy before leaving the carriage.

Murphy was becoming more agitated, arguing again with his partner with others telling him to calm down.

Murphy then tried to get off the train but the door was locked and he shouted, “I can’t get off the f****** train”.

He began making threats, shouting, “I am going to attack people” and “Don’t you f****** come near me. I will f****** beat you up.”

Murphy began flailing his arms and a group of females moved to confront him.

The depute went on, “More passengers got involved in the argument and a number of female passengers left their seats and advanced on the accused, who began to pace around the carriage repeatedly shouting and being aggressive.”

Murphy grabbed a female around the throat with his left hand and compressed her neck. As a result, she could not breathe and thought she was going to pass out.

Murphy was then restrained by others and the victim “felt dizzy and disorientated”.

British Transport Police and other officers were waiting on the platform at Kirkcaldy and escorted Murphy from the train. He was restrained on the ground before being handcuffed and arrested.

The woman later went to Victoria Hospital having sustained bruising, was in pain when swallowing and had a sore shoulder.

Defence solicitor Amy Harley said her client had been drinking and was now “apologetic”.

She added, “He’d been for a day out and fell out with his partner so they were sitting in different carriages. He became increasingly agitated and a group of females became involved.”

The court was told that Murphy is already in jail serving a 27-month sentence imposed in July with a release date at the end of May.

However, Sheriff Krista Johnston imposed a consecutive jail term of ten months for the train incident.

She told Murphy, “You assaulted a member of the public, a woman, for no good reason, causing her a considerable and alarming injury. This was yet another incident of violence on your part.”

15/12/2025

Fife College today welcomed First Minister John Swinney to its new Dunfermline City Campus.

The Dunfermline Learning Campus is a landmark education project bringing together Fife College, St Columba’s RC High School and Woodmill High School in a unique, purpose-built, co-located campus – the first of its kind in Scotland.

Mr Swinney was joined by former St Columba's teacher Jenny Gilruth MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, as well Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities and local MSP for Dunfermline, alongside more than 150 partners, stakeholders and community representatives from Fife and across the country.

Fife Reporter

07/01/2026

05/01/2026

01/01/2026

24/12/2025

22/12/2025

21/12/2025

20/12/2025

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