A 20-year-old man as been arrested and charged following a report of a serious sexual offence of a 15-year-old girl in Edinburgh.
The incident took place in the York Place area on Sunday, 25 May, 2025.
He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Courttoday (Monday, 2 June, 2025).
A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Enquiries are ongoing.
POLICE are appealing for information after a teenage girl was the victim of a serious sexual assault in Edinburgh on Sunday, 25 May, 2025.
The incident happened shortly after 5am in a basement storage area on York Place.
The 15-year-old girl was approached by a man at a bus stop by Marks and Spencer on Princes Street at around 5am. He then took her on foot to York Place.
After the assault the suspect left the area in the direction of Dublin Street.
The suspect is described as a white man with blond stubble/beard who spoke with a Scottish accent. He was wearing a black zip up hooded top, khaki green trousers, and Nike trainers. He wore a black balaclava.
Detective Inspector Mhairi Cooper from the Public Protection Unit in Edinburgh said: “This was a frightening incident for the girl and we have specialist officers supporting her and her family.
“From extensive enquiries within Edinburgh City Centre, we know the suspect approached her on Princes Street and then led her onto South St David Street, around St Andrew Square, onto Queen Street, then to York Place.
“Despite the early morning there was daylight in this busy commercial area. I am asking people who were within the area at the time and could have seen the suspect alone or with the victim, to come forward.
“CCTV from the New Town area is being gathered and checked – I would ask anyone with private systems to check these and submit anything of relevance to us as soon as possible.
“We continue to carry out door to door enquiries and I’d appeal to local residents and businesses in New Town who may have premises off street level to check any storage areas or lock ups and report any suspicious items or behaviour to us.”
Chief Inspector Brian Manchester, Local Area Commander, said: “We understand an incident such as this is concerning for the local community, and we have a dedicated enquiry team working on this investigation.
“Anyone with concerns should speak to officers without hesitation.”
Those with information should contact Police Scotland via 101 and quote incident number 0136 of 27 May 2025. An anonymous report can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Work is now complete on The Auction Rooms, a distinctive, design-led office development in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town. The project has transformed the former Bonhams Auction House, 22 Queen Street, into one of the city’s most sought-after commercial spaces.
Situated within a Grade A Listed Georgian townhouse, originally designed by the renowned architect Robert Adam in 1784, The Auction Rooms delivers a seamless blend of historic architecture and modern functionality.
Led by Edinburgh-based Atom Group, with design by award-winning Studio LBA and interiors by Nicola McMurray Design Studio, the restoration blends original features, such as grand staircases, ornate cornicing, and arched doorways, with contemporary design tailored to modern business needs.
The redevelopment is already at full occupancy, as businesses continue to restructure regional office estates, with a shift towards flexible, serviced workspaces, demonstrating strong, sustained demand for high-quality, character-rich office space in Edinburgh city centre.
Lynsay Bell, Managing Director of Studio LBA, said: “It’s been a privilege to work on such an architecturally distinct building, originally crafted by a pioneering figure in architectural history. Our strategy focused on preserving its stunning Georgian features while optimising the space as a modern, functional office environment.
“Thoughtful design was central to our approach, curating spaces that pay homage to the building’s historic character, while integrating contemporary adaptations to create a beautiful and highly usable space. The Auction Rooms is a triumph of adaptive reuse and conservation, and a bold addition to Edinburgh’s office market at a time when demand for premium, central workspace is stronger than ever.”
Communal areas take cues from boutique hotels, featuring soft lighting, plush furnishings and relaxed breakout zones that encourage both collaboration and quiet focus. Meeting rooms and private offices are finished with bespoke joinery, statement lighting and custom furniture, delivering a cohesive, high-quality tenant experience.
Wellness and sustainability are central to the building’s design, with optimised lighting for productivity and smart systems, including LoRaWAN controls, helping it achieve an EPC rating of B.
The reimagined space supports a wide range of flexible working options, including private offices, dedicated desks, open-plan layouts, and virtual office packages.
These virtual offerings provide businesses with a professional address and access to The Auction Rooms’ extensive business services and meeting facilities, ideal for remote or hybrid teams. On-site amenities include shower facilities, secure bike storage, and thoughtfully designed communal areas.
The Auction Rooms also features five beautifully designed external meeting rooms available for hire, accommodating between four and twelve people.
Mark McMeekin, Director at The Atom Group, said: “Working with the brilliant team at Studio LBA, we’ve created a space that blends heritage with modern functionality – a workspace that’s both inspiring and practical. The response has been exceptional.
“As we moved from development to operations stages, we brought in consultants with experience scaling serviced offices across global cities, drawing inspiration from design-led brands like FORA and Industrious, to provide the highest level of service from the outset. With the building now fully let and a growing waiting list, demand for high-quality workspaces across major cities is clear.
“To meet that, we’re opening a sister building in the capital and launching MOTA, our new operating brand for serviced offices. We’re also exploring expansion into other major European cities. This is just the beginning.”
The project was led by ATOM Group, with Studio LBA serving as architect and Nicola McMurray Design Studio responsible for interior design.
Thomson Gray acted as quantity surveyor and principal designer, Christie Gillespie provided structural engineering, David Brown Lighting delivered the lighting design, and WGM served as M&E consultant.
During renovations, an exceptionally rare Victorian Crossley engine was found tucked away in the attic of CoDE The Court, where it had remained hidden for decades. It is now on display in The Lost Close, the underground vaults of the building.
Built in 1878, this marvel of Victorian engineering, it was far ahead of its time, used to regulate the temperature of the Edinburgh Police Chambers, and its survival offers a rare glimpse into 19th century innovation.
Remarkably, this engine is the second-oldest surviving Crossley four-stroke engine in the world and the oldest in Europe. Only two other examples exist, the oldest is housed at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, USA, and another in Denmark. Its discovery, in near original condition, by founder Andrew Landsburgh, adds a significant chapter to Britain’s industrial heritage.
It’s unclear whether the engine was newly installed in the building or a second-hand acquisition. Adding to the intrigue, research revealed a royal connection.
In the 1800s, Edinburgh Police Chambers and Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family’s Scottish residence, had the same system installed; adding to the royal connection, this rediscovered engine had originally been installed in the short lived “Royal Aquarium” at Waverley, before being moved to the police chambers in 1881 where it was installed for the purpose of ventilation.
Andrew Landsburgh, Director and Founder of CoDE Concepts, said: “This is one of the most exciting finds in Scotland. We found it during The Court’s renovation, posted a photo online not knowing what we had, and suddenly experts from around the world were contacting us telling us we’d uncovered something incredible.
“What began as a refurbishment turned into the discovery of a vital piece of Edinburgh, and the world’s industrial heritage. This engine connects us directly to Scotland’s innovative past and the very beginnings of technology which still powers the modern world.
“We’ve brought it down from the attic to The Lost Close, the underground vaults of the building, where visitors can experience this historic find firsthand.”
The story of this extraordinary discovery will be featured in an upcoming documentary titled ‘Potential Energy’ airing from 23rd May, which delves into how the engine was found, its relocation from the attic to The Lost Close, underground vaults of the building and the possibilities of restoring it for modern use.
The engine is currently on display at The Lost Close. To mark this discovery, The Lost Close is launching the Scottish Innovations Tour this June, exploring the country’s contributions to innovation and industry.
Visitors will journey through The Lost Close, now the permanent home of the Crossley ‘Otto Silent’ engine, and uncover Edinburgh’s role in shaping global technological progress.
James Armandary, Tourism Development Lead of The Lost Close, said: “This is an incredibly exciting addition to The Lost Close. It’s not every day you uncover a piece of engineering history that bridges the gap between Scotland’s past innovations and technology we take for granted today.
“This building continues to surprise us with its storied history and with the launch of the Scottish Innovations Tour, visitors will not only be able to see the engine up close but also explore Edinburgh’s long-overlooked role in shaping global industry.”
The Lost Close, hidden for nearly two centuries beneath layers of rubble from the Great Fire, was also rediscovered during renovations in 2019.
For more information, please visit https://thelostclose.com/crossley-engine
To book tickets to the ‘Potential Energy’ premier and Q&A, please visit:
To book tickets to the Scottish Innovations Tour, please visit:
Ian Hamilton Finlay
National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two
8 March – 26 May 2025
Admission free
Ian Hamilton Finlay | National Galleries of Scotland
The centenary of the remarkable Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) will be marked in a new free display of his work on the ground floor of Modern Two in Edinburgh from 8 March to 26 May 2025.
This exhibition will showcase key highlights from Ian Hamilton Finlay’s artistic career, starting in the early 1960s until his death in 2006. Hailed as a unique combination of poet, sculptor, printmaker, gardener and provocateur, Finlay’s practice covered a wide range of media which will be reflected in this display of sculptures and prints as well as never-before-seen archival materials and a room-sized installation, all from Scotland’s national collection.
From the Classical world to the French Revolution, the Enlightenment to World War Two, Finlay, a self-proclaimed ‘anti-modernist’, often looked to history for inspiration. Recurring motifs including boats, tanks, wallflowers and ships can be spotted throughout the range of artwork that will be on display. Although simple by design, they often draw on more complex references to history, literature and art – with subtle humorous nods.
Born in the Bahamas in 1925 to Scottish parents, Finlay moved to Scotland in his early childhood, taking up a brief stint at Glasgow School of Art and eventually settling in Edinburgh in the late 1950s. His love of the written word influenced the start of his career as a playwright and poet. He became a key figure in the concrete poetry movement – a type of visual poetry where words are arranged to create patterns and images on the page.
Visitors will see early examples of Finlay’s concrete poetry, including the screenprint Star/Steer (1966), which tells the visual tale of a ship navigating stormy seas under the silvery light of the stars, presented through cascading words.
The artist’s first steps into the world of sculpture will also be explored through his days as a hobbyist toy-maker in 1960s Edinburgh. The exhibition will feature the wooden Toy Cow (1962-63), one of the earliest examples of Finlay’s sculptural work, alongside photographs of the artist amongst his toy creations.
A visionary artist, Finlay harnessed the power of collaboration throughout much of his work, drawing on the expertise of fellow makers and creators to bring his artistic visions to life. From stone-carvers to typographers, ceramicists to calligraphers, he employed a wide range of specialist technicians to realise his work.
In 1966, Finlay and his wife Sue moved into a semi-derelict farmland called Stonypath, south-west of Edinburgh, sheltered within the Pentland Hills. Here, he would go on to create what is often considered his greatest work: an ambitious, expansive garden filled with sculptures.
Renamed ‘Little Sparta’, in reference to the Spartan wars in Ancient Greece, and a humorous nod to his own personal battles with organisations such as the Scottish Arts Council, Finlay grew his creative practice in its grounds over the course of 40 years.
Rarely leaving its confines for decades due to agoraphobia (a fear of open, crowded spaces), Finlay created over 260 sculptures and artworks at Little Sparta, distributed across its four acres of curated gardens. The site remains an integral part of Finlay’s artistic legacy and is open to the public to enjoy each summer.
Visitors to the exhibition can take a glimpse into the lush grounds of Little Sparta for themselves through Finlay’s installation Nature over again after Poussin (1979). Filling a whole room, the work comprises 11 photographs set on plinths, each offering different viewpoints of Little Sparta.
A carved stone can be found within each image, ‘signed’ with the initials of artists who embraced a more classical approach to painting landscapes. The work encourages a moment of escapism, embracing time to get lost within the serenity of each photo.
The exhibition will also take over the Keiller library, where visitors can uncover more about the man behind the artwork through a selection of rare archival materials. Objects including letters, personal photographs and notebooks, many of which have never been on display before, will give a unique insight into Finlay’s inspirations, artwork and life.
Patrick Elliot, Chief Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Galleries of Scotland said: ‘Ian Hamilton Finlay was a completely unique figure in British art.
“Severe agoraphobia meant that he seldom left his house and garden in the Pentland Hills. Collectors, museum curators and art lovers from all over the world came to see him and his garden over a period of 40 years.
“He was a complete maverick, a wonderful, complicated, fascinating man and artist. Totally uncompromising and at times difficult, he created what is, in many people’s eyes, the greatest artwork created in Scotland in the second half of the twentieth century: his garden at Little Sparta.’
Ian Hamilton Finlay is free to visit and yours to discover at Modern Two from Saturday 8 March 2025.
Officers are asking for the help of the public to trace a 60-year-old man reported missing from Edinburgh.
Guy Bargery was last seen around 9.15am yesterday (Monday, 27 January, 2025), in the Dundas Street area.
He is described as white, around 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build with grey/white hair.
When last seen, Guy was wearing a checked green and cream shirt, denim jeans, a beige jacket, and is believed to have been wearing black trainers. He may be driving his grey Volvo XC60 with registration SK13 VPZ, and travelled to the Fife area.
Inspector Jonathan Wilson said: “It is important that we make sure Guy is safe and well, as there are growing concerns for his welfare.
“We urge anyone who has seen Guy, his car, or has any information on his whereabouts to please contact us as soon as possible.”
Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 3443 of 27 January.
Officers searching for a 60-year-old man missing from Edinburgh have traced his car near St Madoes, in Perth.
Guy Bargery was last seen around 9.15am on Monday, 27 January, 2025, in the Dundas Street area of Edinburgh.
Enquiries have been ongoing to trace him and his grey Volvo was traced in the Chapelhill near St Madoes around 2.30pm on Tuesday, 28 January, 2025.
Searches are being carried out in the area and officers are continuing to appeal for the help of the public to trace Guy.
He is described as white, around 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build with grey/white hair.
When last seen, Guy was wearing a checked green and cream shirt, denim jeans, a beige jacket, and is believed to have been wearing black trainers.
Inspector James Longden said: “It is important that we make sure Guy is safe and well, as there are growing concerns for his welfare.
“His vehicle has been traced in Chapelhill near St Madoes and that is where our searches are being focussed.
“I would urge anyone who has seen Guy, or who has any information on his whereabouts to please contact us as soon as possible.”
Anyone who can help is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference number 3443 of 27 January, 2025.
POLICE are appealing for information following a robbery at an address on Saxe Coburg Street in Edinburgh.
Around 9.10pm on Friday, 11 October, a man entered the property, threatened the 92-year-old male occupant, and stole a quantity of cash before leaving in an unknown direction,
The suspect is described as a white male, mid 30s to 40s, of average build and clean shaven. He was wearing a long knee-length dark blue jacket with large white writing down the front and a dark grey baseball cap.
Detective Sergeant Martin Smith of Corstorphine CID said: “Thankfully the victim was not injured during the robbery however it was still a very distressing experience for him.
“Our enquiries into this incident are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone with information or who thinks they may have seen a man matching the description to contact us.
“We are also keen for any local residents with private CCTV or possible dashcam footage to come forward.
“Anyone who can help is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3729 of 11 October. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Curbing sky rocketing A&E waiting times must be the number one priority for the Scottish government with winter just around the corner.
That is the call from The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Scotland as A&E performance data for July represented the worst July since records began in 2011 for extended wait times in Emergency Departments.
Data released yesterday (Tuesday 3 September 2024) by Public Health Scotland shows in A&Es across Scotland in July, 5,593 patients waited 12 hours or longer before being seen, admitted, discharged, or transferred.
This is double the number of people who waited this long in July last year.
The data also shows long waits have increased significantly since the 2010s.
Since July 2017, for example, the numbers of people waiting four hours or more has increased by nearly seven times (5553 to 38,379), eight hours or more by 53 times (248 to 13,146), and 12 hours or more by 279 times (20 to 5,593). This was despite attendances only increasing by 0.9% in the same period.
Delays in discharging patients is a key reason that doctors cannot admit patients into hospitals from their Emergency Departments, therefore causing long waits. In July, there were 61,165 days spent in hospital by people who were well enough to be discharged but unable to be due to a lack of social care provisions. This is equivalent to 167 years.
Dr John-Paul Loughrey, RCEM Vice President for Scotland said: “The Scottish government must take heed and put measures in place to end long wait times in our Emergency Departments.
“These staggering statistics are deeply worrying for the people of Scotland who are facing incredibly long and tiring waits despite it being summer. We have been dealing with ‘winter levels’ of pressure, which does not bode well as we start to head into the colder months. The first day of winter is just three months away, which will inevitably heap pressure on the health care system.
“Continuing to focus on diverting patients away from A&E rather than addressing the capacity problems will not avert the coming crisis. These statistics aren’t just numbers. They are people who have come to our Emergency Departments needing emergency care. They deserve better. Our health care colleagues deserve better.”
A graphical representation of the data can be found here.
The full data set can be found on the RCEM website.
A new outdoor exhibition of photographs by five local photographers has gone on display in Edinburgh’s busy urban thoroughfares.
Living Spaces, commissioned by Places for People Scotland, part of the UK’s leading social enterprise, has been installed in five different locations across the city, all of which were identified as vandalism hotspots following numerous repairs and treatments by the Places for People Scotland team over the years.
After identifying the locations, Places for People Scotland brought local photographers on board, who suggested various images which they believed would work well across the sites.
The artists and Places for People Scotland recognised the importance of resident participation in this project – as these are ‘living spaces’ – and customers living in the area were invited to select the final images to go on display using an online poll.
The chosen photographs vary from moments of calm within the natural world, to colourful snapshots of interior and exterior life around the city.
Katie Smart, Director of Places for People Scotland said: “We are delighted to see this project come to life, our goal with this project was to transform living spaces across the city that had been victim to vandalism for both our customers whose homes are in the area and the wider Edinburgh community.
It was important to us to involve our customers in the decision process, it feels extra special knowing that the artwork has been chosen by those most affected whilst being able to provide incredible local photographers with a platform for their work.”
Christina Webber, participating photographer and Director of AGITATE, said: “It’s such a joy to see this project realised and AGITATE are proud to host a version of the work at 6WS during the Festival season.
“We love the August buzz and to be able to platform local artists to a visiting international audience is a really important opportunity.
“As a photographer, exhibiting work in alternative spaces with so many people passing each day is really exciting. Engagement with photography is so often digital, having the chance to be part of people’s everyday journeys is a privilege.”
Smaller scale versions of all the works are on display at 6 William Street (6WS) throughout August, alongside a Festival ‘rest space’ and a short programme of drop-in workshops to complement the work.
The artists whose work is included in the project are:
Dave Ferrie
Everything that exists in cities is of interest to Dave, but particularly the areas where old and new meet, and the spaces where nature and man-made structures coexist.
Dave loves exploring urban environments and photographing the moments, places and sights which grab his attention.
Kat is a graduate of both Stevenson College (now Edinburgh College) and Edinburgh Napier University, where she graduated with first class honours, and has over 15 years experience in the photography industry.
Kat specialises in events, portraiture and live performance. As well as commercial photographic work, she teaches photography, and is an exhibited photographic artist and a published writer on the subject.
Zoe is a photographer from Co. Antrim, now living in Edinburgh.
She is interested in the relationship between humans and the environment, as well as the systems of classification that we use to make sense of the world around us.
Jack Low
Jack Low is a lens-based visual artist based in Glasgow, having studied Photography and Film at Edinburgh Napier University.
Drawn into photography at a young age through an interest in technology, he has produced works critically examining modern culture, social media and the human condition through means of installation pieces and typologies.
Christina Webber
Christina is a visual artist who loves pictures, words, and their potential when put together. She completed a First Class BA (Hons) in Photography & Film from Edinburgh Napier University in 2015, and works as a Freelance Digital Communicator for a variety of clients.
Additionally, Christina is Co-Director of AGITATE, a hub for photography based in Edinburgh’s West End.
THOUSANDS OF DISCOUNTED TICKETS WILL RAISE FUNDS FOR WAVERLEY CARE FOR 24 HOURS ONLY
It’s time to paint the town pink once more as Gilded Balloon, one of Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s longest-running venues, kicks off their legendary Pink Wednesday – a 24 hour charity day with £5 tickets for some of the Fringe’s most in-demand shows.
Gilded Balloon’s staff, performers and customers join together to don their best pink outfits and fundraise for this year’s charity partner Waverley Care, all whilst enjoying discounted tickets for Fringe shows, fancy dress, competition prizes and more.
With 130 shows across two venues in 2024, Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland, fans can snap up £5 tickets for comedy, theatre, family, cabaret and more, with a percentage of ticket sales donated directly to Waverley Care, Scotland’s leading HIV and hepatitis C charity.
Acts raising funds for Waverley Care include Jack Docherty in The Chief – No Apologies, Martin Brock, Juliette Burton, Hypnotist Matt Hale, Chris Hall, Pop Off, Michelangelo, Grace Campbell and more, with £5 tickets available for these shows via Gilded Baloon’s box offices and websites.
Visit tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk to view all shows offering £5 tickets today across family, comedy, cabaret, theatre, magic and more.
Ts&Cs: £5 plus handling fees. Tickets to participating shows only, whilst stocks last
Traditionally nicknamed ‘Black Wednesday’ and known as a day of slower ticket sales across the Fringe, Gilded Balloon introduced Pink Wednesday in 2018 to encourage locals and Fringe fans to take a chance on a new show and enjoy discounted tickets, all whilst raising vital funds for charity.
Each £5 ticket sold will see money donated to Waverley Care, as well as charity staff fundraising throughout the day with bucket collections, QR codes and information points.
Waverley Care was founded in 1989 in response to the HIV epidemic in Edinburgh, the charity now focuses on ending new HIV transmission in Scotland by 2030, while continuing to support people and communities affected by HIV, hepatitis C and sexual health inequalities.
Katy and Karen Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon said: “It’s officially time to paint the town pink again as we launch £5 tickets for one day only, in support of the wonderful Waverley Care.
“Pink Wednesday is a chance for acts, customers and staff to join together and raise money for charity, support our brilliant artists and see some fantastic shows for only £5. It’s a great opportunity to take a chance on something new and buy a ticket for a show you haven’t heard of before, and maybe discover your new favourite comedian!
“We’re thrilled to see so many acts opt in to support Waverley Care by donating a percentage of their ticket sales for today to the charity, as they do unparalleled and vitally important work across Scotland. We hope everyone embraces the Pink Wednesday spirit, dons their best pink outfits today and comes down to get involved!”
Grant Sugden, Chief Executive, Waverley Care said: “Waverley Care is delighted to be chosen as Gilded Balloon’s charity partner for this year’s Pink Wednesday event. This collaboration is an incredible opportunity to tackle HIV stigma and raise vital funds.
“Scotland is on the verge of becoming one of the first countries to achieve zero new HIV transmission. To reach this goal, we need more people to get tested, to improve access to HIV prevention medication Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and to end harmful HIV stigma.
“We look forward to engaging with people attending shows, sharing our mission to end new HIV transmission by 2030, and raising money to support those affected by HIV and hepatitis C across Scotland.”
Waverley Care is Scotland’s leading HIV and hepatitis C charity, and everything they do is guided by the experiences of the people they work with – this ranges from shaping the services they deliver through to how they influence national policy around sexual health and blood-borne viruses (BBVs).
Waverley Care’s vision is a Scotland where anyone living with or at risk of HIV can expect to be treated with acceptance, support and respect. Find out more information and support Waverley Care – www.waverleycare.org
With over 130 shows across two venues including Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland, Gilded Balloon’s programme covers comedy, theatre, magic, kids shows and much more.
Tickets via www.tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk
