Man given chance to behave

A MAN who was caught sleeping in an Airbnb flat after breaking into it has been given a chance to behave himself.

Jacek Turek, 26, previously admitted forcing his way into a property on High Street on July 2 last year.

Dundee Sheriff Court previously heard that Turek committed the offence in order to find a place to sleep for the night.

Police were called and found Turek in possession of a rucksack that contained a stolen iron.

He also previously admitted possessing a knife on Victoria Street in May 2018, and breaching bail by being out with his home address during curfew on June 8, June 15, September 24 and October 15 and October 17 the same year.

Sheriff John Rafferty deferred sentence on Turek until July for him to be of good behaviour.

He was bailed to the Woodlands Hotel on Panmure Terrace.

A PORTRAIT of a muchmissed Dundee busker has been unveiled to the public.

Fans were devastated when Alan McWilliam, who had long entertained passers-by from his favourite spot at the Cowgate underpass, died in January after a long illness. He was 55.

Now the talented musician has been immortalised on canvas by Broughty Ferry artist Steven Higginson, who received a private commission for the work.

Steven, 37, said the oil painting of Alan – known to many as BY – had taken almost four weeks to complete.

He added: “I was asked to do this piece in March. I actually knew Alan, as my previous studio was in town and I’d go past and speak to him.

“As many have said, he was such a lovely guy. I read an article recently about posters of him appearing in the Cowgate in his memory.

“This was a private commission for someone and I got the original picture of that poster to work from.

“With a painting like this you start to build up the layers and you only really start to see the person in the final days of completion.”

Steven, who studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, sought permission from the buyer before showcasing the painting online, and he was delighted by the public’s reaction.

He said: “When I’ve done portraits in the past they have been for local people and they have also gone down really well online.

“Given that Alan was so well known, it went viral on social media – people just started commenting on what a nice guy Alan was.”

Steven added: “This is a one-off piece and I’m just delighted I’ve been able to catch Alan so perfectly at his iconic spot.”

Many who commented online said Steven’s work was “amazing” while others reminisced about their own personal stories of Alan.

Steven said: “There were a phenomenal number of comments about this particular work and Alan as a man himself.”

The artistic salute to Alan comes two weeks after a musical tribute to him featured in a video performed by artists Nick Shane, Paul “Lefty” Wright and Jen Culross.