Fife Reporter (2025)

29/08/2025

It's a big day in Kelty tomorrow with the return of the Scottish Coal Carrying Championships.

Events get underway at noon and it's a fun day out for all the family.

Good luck to all those taking part.

The annual Coal Race originates from the stories that colliers in the late 1800's ran home from the pits with either bags of "rakers" or "clugs" in their bags.

Kelty at one time was the largest village in Fife with over 14 coal pits surrounding the village.

29/08/2025

£100 FINES FOR PAVEMENT PARKING START IN FIFE ON MONDAY

New fines for parking on pavements come into effect in Fife from Monday.

Drivers will be hit with £100 penalties and the ban includes blue badge holders.

Here is what Fife Council is saying about the ban.

"The new rules make pavements safer for everyone. Here’s why:

Parking on Pavements:
- stops people from walking safely
- is dangerous for people with disabilities and those pushing prams
-damages pavements, making them trip hazards
Double Parking:
-makes it hard for vulnerable people to cross the road safely
Parking at Dropped Kerbs:
-stops people in wheelchairs from crossing the road
Enforcement
Parking attendants will issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).
The fine is £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

What is Not Allowed
You must not:

Park on the pavement or grass verge
Double park (park beside another car)
Park across dropped kerbs used for crossing
Even if there’s nowhere else to park, these actions are now against the law. Parking attendants will be working across Fife.

Universal Application of Rules
These rules apply everywhere:

-to all public roads and pavements, including private roads, if pedestrians use them
-to everyone, including Blue Badge holders
-There won’t be signs everywhere telling you not to park. The default rule is: no pavement parking is allowed anywhere, unless a sign states otherwise.

Exceptions
Some vehicles can park on pavements if:

-they are used for emergency services, roadworks, waste collection, or postal services
-they are used by doctors, nurses, or midwives for urgent care
-they are helping at an accident or breakdown
-they are delivering or collecting goods, but only for up to 20 minutes
These exceptions only apply if:

the vehicle must be on the pavement to do its job
the vehicle is not within 1.5 metres of the edge of the pavement
the vehicle is parked for no longer than necessary
Exemption Orders
A street can be exempt if:

at least 1.5 metres of the pavement is clear or
parking on the street would block emergency vehicles

28/08/2025

Find out what's been happening in Fife's courts on our website:
http://www.fifereporter.com/

27/08/2025

SERIAL THIEF BROKE INTO FIFE HOME WHILE FAMILY SLEPT

A lowlife serial offender, who broke into a house in Glenrothes while a family slept, has been given more jail time

Drug addict Scott Paterson has over 60 previous convictions for similar offending.

Paterson, 39, recently of East Kilbride, had been living in Kirkcaldy at the time of the break-in.

He appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court by video-link from prison, having already been jailed for other matters.

Paterson has been addicted to he**in then crack co***ne all his adult life, the court was told.

Paterson admitted that on 10th August last year he broke into a house in Lyle Crescent, Glenrothes and stole cash, a laptop, headphones and to***co.

Depute fiscal Douglas Thomson said the victim had finished working on his computer and gone to bed. His wife and child were already sleeping.

At 2.49am police officers were dealing with another matter in the area and were told by a member of the public that a nearby door to a house was lying open.

They went there and the victim told them a lap-top, headphones, money and other items had been stolen.

At 3.27am police received another call, this time about a man lying unconscious in the street in the area.

This turned out to be Paterson, who was intoxicated, aggressive and volatile when police spoke to him.

Sheriff Susan Duff observed that Paterson has 62 previous convictions for analogous crimes as well as other non-analogous offences.

She jailed him for 16 months to run consecutively to his current term.

25/08/2025

A man who died following a fatal crash near Blairadam has been named as 22-year-old Ollie Nelson.

The accident occurred on the B996 at the junction for the B9097 around 10.50pm on 17th August, 2025 involving a black Seat Leon.

Ollie, from Strathmiglo, was a passenger in the car.

Constable Lee Buckley said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Ollie at this devastating time.

“I would urge anyone who may have been in the area around the time of the crash and witnessed what happened, or has any dashcam footage which could assist, to please get in touch with officers.”

22/08/2025

PC SUSTAINED BROKEN WRIST AFTER BEING CALLED TO 'SECTARIAN' DISTURBANCE

A police officer was badly injured during a struggle in the home of a drunken thug in Dunfermline.

John Trainer became aggressive towards a neighbour after watching a match a Celtic-Rangers match on TV, making a death threat.

He then struggled violently with police officers, trying to bite one of them and a constable sustained a broken wrist during the altercation.

Trainer, 43, of The Heathers Wynd, was found guilty after a trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted one of the charges: that on various occasions on 11th May last year at The Heathers Wynd, he repeatedly shouted, swore, made offensive remarks towards a man, refused to desist, challenged people to fight and adopted an aggressive stance. The offence was aggravated by religious prejudice.

He was found guilty of the other five charges he faced.

On the same day, he resisted, obstructed or hindered two police officers and struggled violently with them.

He assaulted an officer by attempting to bite him, scratched him on the body, bent his fingers back, attempted to trip him up and used his body weight against him to unbalance him whereby he fell and was injured.

He assaulted a second officer by attempting to bite him on the body, attempted to trip him up, whereby he fell over and he also punched him, to his severe injury.

He repeatedly shouted, swore, made threats towards police officers and refused to desist.

Then at Dunfermline police station he shouted, swore, made threats and refused to desist.

The trial heard that Trainer had watching the football on TV and had knocked back a bottle of red wine and “a couple of beers”.

After the match, Trainer got into an altercation with a neighbour who was wearing a Celtic top.

The police were called to the scene to deal with reports of “a sectarian disturbance”.

When officers arrived they saw Trainer being taken into his house by his wife as he was shouting, “I’m going to kill those f****** c**** just now”.

An officer was concerned for the safety of Mrs Trainer and followed them into their house.

Trainer immediately became aggressive towards the officer shouting, “What the f*** are you doing in my house you c***?”

Other officers went to the house and when Trainer was arrested he began struggling with them.

He kicked out, tried to bite an officer and fell on top of one of them, resulting in a broken wrist. The officer is now restricted in his ability to use his left wrist.

He shouted “f*** off” at another officer, calling him “a pig”.

He also said, “I’m gonnae make this hard for you. I’m not going the easy way” and “What if I headbutt you then? You have my arms but I still have my head.”

At the police station, he threatened the injured officer further, saying, “I’ll show you what an assault is.”

Some of the incident in the street was captured on CCTV.

Sheriff Susan Duff called for reports and Trainer will be sentenced on 24th September.

20/08/2025

OFFSKI – THIEVES WHO STOLE CHARITY DONATIONS GO AWOL

Two Lithuanians were caught stealing from charity clothes banks in Fife.

They targeted donation sites in supermarket car parks, breaking into the units, stealing the donated clothing and driving off with them.

One of them had a fake driving licence from his homeland.

The pair were due to be sentenced at Dunfermline Sheriff Court today but, perhaps unsurprisingly, were nowhere to be seen.

The thieves are Roslandas Zakarauskas, 24 Timona Juskas, 26, both of no fixed abode, according to court papers.

They previously admitted that on 14th July at Tesco, Queensferry Road, Rosyth, they forced open a locked Salvation Army donation bank and stole a quantity of clothing.

On the same day, at the Dunfermline Recycling Point, in the Asda Halbeath car park, they committed the same offence.

Zakarauskas also admitted he was in possession of false Lithuanian drivers licence.

Their 'not guilty' pleas to two similar thefts from clothes banks in Edinburgh were accepted by the Crown.

Their solicitors could offer no explanation for their non-appearance and Sheriff Krista Johnston granted warrants for their arrest.

20/08/2025

FIFE SERIAL OFFENDER IGNORED LIFETIME DRIVING BAN AND CRASHED IN POLICE CHASE

A 44-year-old Fife man with multiple lifetime driving bans has been jailed again for his latest crime.

JamIe Mullan defied the disqualification yet again and then ignored police blue lights during a chase through Fife.

After going through a red light, speeding through Kelty and into the countryside, Mullan ended up in a ditch after a collision with one of the police cars in pursuit.

A sheriff expressed his frustration at the restrictions on his sentencing powers and called for a review.

He was also unimpressed by a call for “leniency” for the serial offender from his solicitor.

Mullan, from Kelty and currently a prisoner at Perth, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court by video-link from prison.

He admitted that on 4th July at Black Road, Great North Road and Bath Street, Kelty, the A912 Perth to Gateside road and elsewhere,

He drove a car dangerously, repeatedly failed to stop when indicated to do so by a marked police vehicle, repeatedly drove at speeds grossly in excess of speed limits including built-up areas.

He overtook a stationary vehicle whilst failing to comply with a red traffic light, overtook other vehicles whilst in close proximity to pedestrians.

He also overtook by driving on the opposing carriageway, repeatedly crossed over the solid white lines, attempted to overtake a police vehicle and collided with it, causing his car to roll into a ditch.

He was also driving while disqualified.

Depute fiscal Sarah Smith said police on patrol saw Mullan’s car and signalled for him to stop before activating their blue lights and sirens.

He sped through roadworks, ignoring a red light and hitting speeds of 50 to 65mph in built-up areas.

The officers lost sight of Mullan but he was later tracked down in the Crook of Devon area, where a stinger was deployed in an attempt to stop him.

The pursuit continued and Mullan collided with a police car trying to stop him. As a result, Mullan’s car ended up in a ditch. He was arrested after he and his passenger were helped out of the car.

Sheriff James Williamson noted that Mullan had been given early release from his last jail term in March.

When defence solicitor Amy Harley asked for leniency, Sheriff Williamson said, “It’s difficult to understand why a court would offer Mr Mullan any leniency given his record.”

He told Mullan he was “a perfect example why the sentencing powers of this court should be reviewed”.

He sent Mullan back to jail to serve five months of his previous sentence and then another 17 months for this latest offending.

Mullan was also given another lifetime driving ban.

19/08/2025

AT KNIFEPOINT: FIFE WOMAN ATTACKED AND ROBBED THREE CABBIES

A 31-year-old woman attacked and robbed three different taxi drivers within six weeks.

The drivers were assaulted, injured and threatened with knives by Claire Duncan, who then robbed them of their takings.

Duncan, from Glenrothes and currently a prisoner, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court by video-link from jail.

Duncan was on five bail orders when she committed the offences.

She admitted that on 2nd April at Flutorum Avenue, Thornton, she assaulted a taxi driver by seizing him by the neck, holding a sharp object against his neck to his injury. She also demanded money and robbed him of £170.

On 9th May, again at Flutorum Avenue, she assaulted a female taxi driver.

She lunged towards her, placed a knife against her neck, demanded money from her and struggled with her, all to her injury.

She also robbed the woman of a bag containing cash, phone chargers and an ID card.

Then on 12th May at Macduff Road, Glenrothes, she assaulted another taxi driver. She repeatedly struck him on the head, demanded money from him and struggled with him.

She repeatedly scratched him to the neck and face, all to his injury and attempted to rob him of a sum of money and a mobile phone.

Depute fiscal Sarah Smith said the first incident occurred at around 12.25am when Duncan was in a taxi and grabbed the driver around the neck.

He then felt an object against his neck and Duncan said she had a blade before robbing him of his takings.

The second incident happened after Duncan had booked a taxi from Methil where she had been visiting her sister.

When the taxi arrived in Thornton, Duncan pulled out a kitchen knife with a 12-inch blade and told the female cabbie, “Give me the money”.

There was a struggle and the driver was hit on the throat before Duncan stole the takings of almost £300 and ran off.

The third offence took place after Duncan asked the driver to take a de-tour into Glenrothes so that she could pick up her bank card.

When the cab reached Macduff Road, Duncan told the driver, “Give me the money. All of it.”

Witnesses heard the driver shouting. “Let me go. She’s robbed me, Help!” He sustained two cuts to his head.

Sheriff James Williamson called for reports and warned Duncan she was facing “a lengthy custodial sentence”. Duncan will remain in custody ahead of sentencing on 9th September.

One of the victims, the female taxi driver, was in court for the hearing. She said afterwards she was still suffering from the effects of the incident and cannot face going back in a cab.

Duncan is currently serving a seven-month jail term imposed in June for a long list of shoplifting offences and punching a store worker after she told she was banned from the Aldi premises in Kirkcaldy.

19/08/2025

Banged up.
Full court report on today's sentencing of disgraced Fife councillor David Graham on our website.
http://www.fifereporter.com/

18/08/2025

PASSENGER (22) DIES IN FIFE CRASH AND DRIVER FIGHTS FOR LIFE

A 22-year-old man has been killed in a crash in Fife and the driver is batting for his life in hospital.

The tragedy occurred at around 10.50pm last night on the B996 at the junction for the B9097 near Blairadam.

Emergency services were called to the scene after receiving reports of a collision involving a black Seat Leon car.

A 22-year-old male passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, a 21-year-old man, was rushed to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. His condition has been described as life-threatening.

A second passenger, a 20-year-old man, was also raced to hospital with serious injuries.

18/08/2025

TRAGIC DEATH OF FOO FIFERS' FRONTMAN

Tributes have been paid to a young Fife musician who has died from a sudden illness.

Graham Redpath was founder and frontman of the tribute band Foo Fifers, who had been due to play a home town gig in Dunfermline this week.

The band posted the tragic news on social media stating:

“It is with the greatest sadness that I write this post.
Graham Redpath, founder member, frontman, singer, guitarist, manager and driving force of the Foo Fifers - Scotland's Ultimate Foo's Tribute, succumbed to a sudden illness in the night of Saturday the 9th of August. The paramedics attended but were unable to save him.

“Graham was so enthusiastic in all that he did, in his music, in football as a player, coach and manager. His loss is unimaginable to all that knew and loved him.

“Graham is survived by his wife, young son, mother, father and brother. Graham will always be in our hearts and will always be thought of with happiness and joy.”

Fife Reporter

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