Dangerous drug driver dodges jail
A DANGEROUS driver high on drink and drugs rammed a school bus transporting children during a frantic police chase.
George Burke, 32, sparked terror for passengers, motorists and pedestrians when he “drove like a maniac” at the wheel of his Jaguar while under the influence of alcohol, cocaine and valium.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Burke did a runner after stealing petrol from the Asda filling station at Phoenix Retail Park.
Sheriff Suhkwinder Gill banned Burke from driving for 19 months and handed him 240 hours of unpaid work.
RANGERS legend Nacho Novo has been rapped by police over a late-night brawl, we can reveal.
The retired striker was filmed raining blows on a reveller outside a takeaway pizza restaurant earlier this month.
Sources say another man, 38, had his ear badly bitten in the melee, which involved five men and four women.
Police previously confirmed they had launched a probe into the incident, which took place in Hunter Street, East Kilbride Village, on Saturday, March 7.
Now police have confirmed
BY RORY CASSIDY the action taken against Novo. They said: “A 40-year-old man has been given a recorded police warning.”
Information about recorded police warnings is kept on file for two years, and they can be taken into account if the individual commits another crime in that time.
Novo previously laughed off the incident on Twitter.
And when contacted and asked to comment on the incident and the recorded police warning, Novo said: “I can’t be bothered.”
The development comes after a Celtic fan, who we have chosen not to name, said he had no issue with the Spanish striker following their altercation.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s done and dusted – it’s finished. It’s over and done with.
“Everyone’s seen the video, everyone knows what happened.
“There’s nothing else to say about it.”
Novo, who became a cult hero at Ibrox after his 25-goal debut season sealed a 2005 league and cup double, lashed out repeatedly after his friend grabbed the victim.
Novo, who ran the NN10 pub in Glasgow, leapt into action, raining blow after blow on his victim’s head.
Bystanders could be seen and heard trying to bring the violence to an end, as the
Spaniard and a woman fell into the middle of the road.
Novo, who also played for Raith Rovers, Dundee and Greenock Morton, then got to his feet and walked towards another man further down the road.
Novo approached the older man at the junction with Main Street and Stuart Street, outside the area’s Tinto Tapas Bar, and the warring groups headed their separate ways as the ex-football ace was held back by three women
and a man.
The clip showed onlookers shouting “Nacho” and “Gary” as they tried to bring the scrap to an end.
Novo scored more than 70 goals in more than 250 appearances for the Light Blues, winning three Scottish Premier Leagues, the Scottish Cup and two League Cups.
He was also part of the UEFA Cup Final side that lost 2-0 to Zenit Saint Petersburg in Manchester in 2008.
Last year, Novo apologised to his then business partner and staff after a cryptic social media blast, which he blamed on “malice and anger following too much to drink”.
Gers fans feared for the future of NN10 – which he ran with Glasgow-based lawyer John Campbell – after the former striker urged them not to give it any business.
But, in an Instagram post, he said his boycott request was a mistake – and asked for forgiveness.