A man has been jailed for five and a half years for the attempted murder of a teenager in the Portobello area of Edinburgh.
Amar Mudawi, 22, pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 16 December, 2025. He was sentenced yesterday, 23 January, 2026, at the same court.
Around 10.55pm on Saturday, 12 April, 2025, officers were called to Mentone Avenue following a report of a 17-year-old male youth who had been found seriously injured following a disturbance on Bath Street. He was taken to hospital for treatment.
Detective Inspector Steven Dick said: “This was a serious and violent attack which could have had fatal consequences for the young victim.
“Violence of this nature will not be tolerated, and we continue to take action against those involved in such criminal behaviour.”
POLICE are appealing for information following a serious assault in Edinburgh.
Around 4.35pm on Friday, 16 January, 2026, police received a report of the serious assault of a 20-year-old man at a bus stop on Nicholson Street.
The suspect approached the victim and seriously assaulted him, before making off towards Nicholson Square.
The suspect is described as white, of stocky build, around 6ft 2ins and aged between 25 and 32. At the time he was wearing a long black Nike coat, a black hoodie with his hood up, black trousers and dark coloured shoes.
The 20-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment.
Detective Constable Gary Lipscombe said: “This incident left a man with serious injuries, and extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace the person responsible.
“We know that the area was very busy at the time and would encourage anyone who witnessed the incident and has yet to speak to officers to come forward.
“Anyone with information, or concerns, is asked to contact officers locally or call 101, quoting incident number 2461 of 16 January, 2026.
“Alternatively, information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Two males, aged 17 and 15, have been arrested and charged after a report of people with bladed weapons seen in Edinburgh city centre yesterday.
Officers, including specialist firearms officers, were called to Rose Street around 2.55pm on Friday, 16 January, 2026.
No one was reported as injured.
The 17-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 19 January.
The 15-year-old will be reported to the relevant youth justice authorities.
Detective Inspector Alan Sharp said: “We are grateful for the support shown by the public to our investigation so far.
“Further enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances. I would urge anyone who may have been in the area at the time and has not yet spoken to police to get in touch.
“You can call 101, quoting reference 1999 of 16 January, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment following the death of a man in Edinburgh.
Paul Menzies was found guilty of the murder of a 53-year-old man, Brian Ramsay, today (Wednesday, 14 January, 2026), following a trial at Edinburgh High Court.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 18 years.
Officers were called to Westfield Road in the city centre around 12.55pm on Friday, 7 June, 2024, following concern for a man within a property. Mr Ramsay was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Chief Inspector David McAlinden said: “This was a violent attack that cost Brian Ramsay his life, and Menzies will now face the consequences of his despicable actions.
“While this conviction cannot change what has happened, I hope it gives Brian’s family and friends some closure.
“I want to reassure the public that violent incidents such as this will not be tolerated in our communities, and our officers will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”
Hospital violence charity among 19 to share in £1 million fund
Medics Against Violence (MAV), a charity operating across 10 hospital Emergency Departments, is among 19 organisations to receive a share of more than £1 million from the Victim Surcharge Fund, which is financed by penalties imposed on offenders who received a court fine.
The funding will support MAV to offer practical assistance and essential items to people arriving at hospital after experiencing violence or exploitation. It will also enhance the charity’s Navigator programmes, which support people to make positive changes and connect them with community organisations.
This is the sixth round of payments from the Victim Surcharge Fund – which was established in November 2019 to provide practical help directly to victims of crime. This takes the total awarded to date from the Fund to £3,486,972.
Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown announced the latest funding allocation as she visited MAV’s Glasgow headquarters to learn more about its work.Ms Brown said: “It is only right that the people who commit crimes contribute towards helping victims and their families recover from trauma.
“I am pleased that since the first awards were made in January 2021, the fund has helped more than 7,000 people affected by crime, distributing almost £3.5 million in support to organisations that support victims of crime.
“The Victim Surcharge Fund allows organisations such as Medics Against Violence to respond quickly and compassionately by providing practical, immediate help to victims of crime when they need it most.”
David Duncan, Chief Executive Officer at Medics Against Violence, added: “Support from the Scottish Government’s Victim Surcharge Fund will be used directly to strengthen the help we provide to victims of crime through our Navigator programmes.
“This investment enables us to offer immediate practical assistance to people arriving in hospital after experiencing violence or exploitation, short‑term wellbeing support in the days that follow, and specialist, age‑appropriate care for children and young people who have been harmed.
“It also allows our Navigators to work alongside victims as they regain stability -advocating for access to housing, mental health services, financial advice, and community support.
“By reducing barriers for those who may feel isolated, frightened, or unsure where to turn, this funding ensures we can respond quickly, compassionately, and in a trauma‑informed way at the moments when victims of crime are most vulnerable. It makes a tangible difference to safety, recovery, and long‑term wellbeing.”
Debbie Adams, Director of Development and External Affairs at Victim Support Scotland, said: “We are extremely grateful to be recipients of the Scottish Government’s Victim Surcharge Fund. The VSF ensures that the fines received by offenders go directly towards helping people impacted by crime.
“In Victim Support Scotland’s case, the VSF goes towards our Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF), which provides a lifeline for people who are in urgent need of financial help as a result of a crime. It can provide life-essential things like emergency household goods, groceries, travel to a place of safety, costs to repair damaged items, and security equipment.
“In 2024-25, the EAF distributed £538,974 worth of funds to people in need. One EAF recipient said that the items they received enabled them to “safeguard our household“, highlighting how it can help people take back control after experiencing crime. This funding will enable us to provide ongoing direct, immediate assistance for those in urgent need.”
An 18-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man have been arrested and charged in connection with two attempted robberies in Edinburgh.
Around 9.30am yesterday (Monday, 12 January, 2026), Police received a report from a premises on Colinton Mains Drive. Later, around 9.50am, a second report from a premises on Oxgangs Road North was received.
There were no injuries.
An 18-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man have been charged in connection with the incidents. They’re due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today – Tuesday, 13 January.
Detective Inspector Alan Sharp said: “I want to thank members of the public who assisted with these incidents before officers arrived and the local community for their support during our enquiries.”
Detectives in Edinburgh are appealing for information following the attempted theft of an ATM in Barnton early this morning.
The incident happened around 2.50am on Wednesday, 7 January, 2026 at a supermarket in Whitehouse Road.
A black Nissan Navara is understood to have been used in an attempt to steal the ATM which then drove deliberately at a police car. The police officer was not hurt.
The driver exited the Nissan Navara and got into a vehicle which could be an Audi A3 with another two men.
The vehicle made off in the direction of Maybury Road. The Nissan Navara was recovered at the scene.
The three men were dressed in black clothing with face coverings.
Detective Inspector Alan Sharp said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious.
“As part of enquiries, we are carrying out a review of CCTV and conducting door to door enquiries.
“I would ask residents to check doorbell footage to see if you have captured anything that can assist our enquiries. I would ask motorists to do the same and check dash-cam footage.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 0257 of 7 January, 2026, or alternatively anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A man has been jailed for serious sexual offences against children which took place in Edinburgh.
Brian Stobie, 70, was sentenced to 12 years and nine months at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday – Tuesday, 30 December, 2025. He was convicted at the same court on Wednesday, 3 December, and also pleaded guilty to indecent communication offences.
Detective Inspector Steph Garnett said: “Stobie’s actions caused immeasurable harm to his young victims. Over several years he deliberately exploited children, and such behaviour is abhorrent in every sense. He will now face the consequences of his despicable actions.
“We remain committed to ensuring offenders like him are brought to justice.
“We know it is difficult to come forward and report sexual crime, but be assured you will be fully supported by our specially trained officers and partner agencies. There is no time bar to reporting, regardless of when it happened, please contact us so we can fully investigate.”
POLICE are appealing for information following a robbery in Edinburgh.
Around 8.25pm on Saturday, 20 December, 2025, a man entered a newsagent on Keir Street with a knife and stole a three-figure sum of cash.
The man made off along Keir Street.
He is described as male, of slim build, and was wearing light grey trousers, a three-quarter length black jacket, a black face covering, black baseball cap and red gloves.He spoke with a Scottish accent.
Detective Constable Gary Lipscombe, Edinburgh CID said: “This was an extremely alarming incident for the staff, and it is vital we trace the man responsible.
“Keir Street would have been busy at the time, and I would ask anyone who was there and who may have seen this man, to get in touch with us.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 1198 of 21 December.
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Police Scotland has seized drugs worth a combined value of almost £14million in the run up to Christmas, marking a record week for recoveries across the country.
One of the largest busts of cocaine, worth more than £8million, was made when officers executed a warrant in Bellshill on Thursday, 11 December.
Significant quantities of ecstasy, amphetamine and mephedrone were also seized in Fraserburgh, worth more than £3.5million, on Friday, 12 December.
In Perthshire, officers acting on intelligence recovered cocaine worth £1.2million on Thursday, 18 December, from an address in the Dunning area. On Sunday, 14 December, £560,000 worth of cocaine was also discovered at a business premises in Bridge of Earn.
Cocaine and cannabis, worth more than £500,000, were found in the loft of a property after a warrant was executed on Thursday, 18 December, in the Lhanbryde area of Elgin.
Officers stopped a car on the M74 near Moffat on Wednesday, 17 December, and a quantity of cocaine, estimated to be worth £175,000, was recovered from inside.
Fifteen people have been arrested and charged in total in connection with drugs offences following the recoveries.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said: “These significant seizures mark one of our most successful weeks for removing drugs from the streets of Scotland, and they will have a huge impact on the cocaine supply across the country.
“Policing does not stop just because it’s Christmas time and we remain relentless in our fight against drugs.
“Controlled substances are dangerous and cause real harm to individuals, families and communities. Working closely with our partners, we remain focused on targeting individuals and organised crime groups, who selfishly exploit vulnerable people for their own financial gain.
“This work also underlines our commitment to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy.
“Action like this is only possible with the continued support of our communities. Anyone with information or concerns about drugs should contact Police Scotland on 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
