Sheriff spares woman jail due to pregnancy

A PREGNANT woman who was last year cleared of an unsolved murder has walked free from court after a sheriff told her she did not want her baby to be born behind bars.

Angela Newlands, 30, failed to carry out a community payback order but avoided jail after the sheriff was told she is due to have her fifth child on January 8.

Sheriff Gillian Wade said: “It was clear in my mind that there was no alternative to a custodial sentence because of the number of opportunities you have been given.

“I have little confidence you will continue to comply with those trying their very best to help you. I have to take account of the fact you are pregnant with another child.

“I do not necessarily think a custodial setting is the best place for that child to come into the world. The future of that child will be determined by others, not by you and not be me today.”

Newlands was given another chance to carry out community payback, as a new order for a year’s supervision and six month curfew was imposed at Perth Sheriff Court.

Heavily pregnant Newlands – who was cleared last year of killing her lover’s sister Annalise Johnstone – had admitted failing to do her previously imposed court order.

She fell pregnant during her previous curfew.

Newlands admitted missing three meetings with her supervising social worker on September 3 and 10 and October 1.

She had previously been placed on an eight month curfew – from 7pm to 7am daily – and under supervision for a year when she first admitted failing to carry out a social work order.

Newlands was originally ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work in the community in September 2019 when she admitted trying to hide her identity by giving police a false ID. She was also banned from driving for 11 months.

Newlands tried to pin the blame on her own sister when she was caught driving the wrong way on a one-way street while already serving a ban.

LOTTERY winners delivered festive treats to dozens of isolated elderly and vulnerable people at Dundee’s Boomerang Club.

The winners, with a combined fortune of more than £19 million, jumped at the chance to help out – especially with many people spending Christmas away from family this year.

Ray Storey, who won over £1m on EuroMillions in 2014, was joined by Libby Elliott, who scooped £2.1m on Lotto in 2012, and Jake Bowman who won a £10m fortune on Lotto in 2016.

Ray said: “I hope our Christmas treats mean that

A POLICE officer dubbed “Mr Tickle” by his shift colleagues because of his drunken antics has resigned from the force after being found guilty of sex attacks on two female officers.

Married Austin Barrett was placed under social work supervision and on the sex offenders register for a year yesterday as his 19-year police career ended in disgrace.

Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard the elected Scottish Police Federation representative had quit Police Scotland after being found guilty of sexual assaults.

Solicitor advocate Kris Gilmartin said Barrett was a Jekyll and Hyde character who had enjoyed an exemplary career as an officer for nearly two decades in Fife.

He said: “There is a clear distinction between Austin Barrett the police officer on duty, and Austin Barrett when he is under the influence of alcohol.

“Efforts are being made to assist him with his alcohol problem. That is clearly ongoing. He held his post