Farmer found with head injuries

Sandy Ingram was found lying outside his Newmachar home at 11pm on June 19, 2010 – moments after going outside to investigate a sighting of two men in his garden.

The farmer and his wife, Ann, had been sitting inside Elrick House, when Mrs Ingram spotted the intruders.

When Mr Ingram failed to return, Mrs Ingram went out to find him lying facedown and unconscious.

A description of the two men was issued at the time but they have never been found.

Police launched a major investigation to try to identify the men. Officers carried out door-to-door inquiries in an effort to find out what had happened to Mr Ingram.

They also set up checkpoints and stopped dozens of vehicles on the B979 Kinmundy to Blackburn road outside Mr Ingram’s home and on the nearby A947 Aberdeen to Oldmeldrum road.

In the days following the incident, Detective Inspector Gauld appealed for anyone who had seen a red Vauxhall car which had been found crashed on the nearby disused railway line.

Mr Ingram spent weeks in intensive care at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and underwent brain surgery.

He was later transferred to Woodend Hospital where hopes for a recovery were high.

However, his condition never improved and on June 2, 2011 he died in a care home in Inverurie.

More than 200 mourners packed Newmachar Parish Church for his funeral.

Mr Ingram’s brother, Rob, launched a neighbourhood watch safety campaign in the village after the incident.