Scottish expansion

A LESLIE man who stole 30 ducks has admitted using a dog to hunt and kill an exceptionally rare deer.

At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday Brandon Robb, of Paterson Cottages, admitted killing a piebald deer, which have a brown and white coat, believed to affect less than 1% of the white-tailed deer population.

He pled guilty to, on March 16 and 17, at Ballingall Farm, Leslie, using a dog to hunt and kill a piebald deer when he did not have the legal right to take or kill deer.

He also admitted that, between January 1 and March 17 at Ballingall Farm, Leslie, he deliberately hunted a piebald deer and other deer, with a lurcher type dog and other dogs.

Furthermore, he pled guilty to, on February 19 at Paterson Park, Leslie, striking Dominic Trojanowski with a golf club, and then later shouting racial remarks at him. He also admitted breaching his bail conditions on four occasions by not presenting himself to police officers.

Last week Robb was warned by Sheriff Alastair Thornton he could face jail after admitting stealing 30 ducks from Meikle Balquhomrie Farm, Leslie, while acting with another man, between July 29 and August 1 last year.

Yesterday Sheriff Thornton deferred sentence until next month for reports and remanded Robb in custody. An Australian-based oil and gas contractor is creating more than 100 jobs as it expands into Scotland.

Clough, an engineering and project services contractor working in the energy, chemical, mining and mineral sectors, is establishing a new operations centre in Glasgow.

The company says the move — which is being supported with £1.5 million of public finds — will allow it to better serve the European, Middle Eastern and African markets.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced Clough was being given £1.5 million of cash under the Regional Selective Assistance scheme, with this supporting the creation of 110 jobs in Glasgow.