Midlothian crimebeat April 20-26

Here is your weekly round-up of crime in Midlothian, for April 20-26, as reported by Police Scotland.

Officers were called to Main Street, Gorebridge, in relation to a man being verbally abusive towards another man in the street.

DALKEITH

On Tuesday, April 22, police were called to Shadepark Gardens in relation to an ongoing disturbance. Officers attended at an address where they were refused entry and the occupants within barricaded the doors. A man exited the property onto the roof where he became verbally abusive and threatening towards officers, while another man attempted to escape via a window where he was quickly apprehended by officers. A full containment was put around the property and entry forced where all occupants within were arrested and conveyed to St Leonards Police station. All persons involved were charged with a Section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licencing Scotland Act 2010 and have been reported on summons to the Procurator Fiscal.

On Wednesday, April 22, road traffic officers observed a man at Tesco, Hardengreen, in a silver Mercedes struggling to open his fuel cap. The 46-year-old male driver was spoken to, where he claimed to have just purchased the car from another 46-year-old male who lived nearby. This man also attended the scene, where their stories in relation to who was the owner and who held the insurance did not match. Enquiries revealed that the male driver did not hold any valid insurance to drive the vehicle and the other man admitted he had not taken any money for the vehicle at this time and was still legally the owner. The driver of the vehicle was charged with driving without a valid certificate of insurance and the owner of the vehicle was charged with causing and permitting offences. The vehicle was seized at the scene and a summons report has been submitted to the Procurator fiscal.

On Wednesday, April 22, officers attended an address in Newton Village in relation to ensuring a 33-year-old man was adhering to bail conditions set by Edinburgh Sheriff Court requiring him to be within his home address between the hours of 7pm and 7am and present himself at the door to police. The man failed to answer or present at the door despite numerous requests from officers. A breach of bail report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

On Thursday, April 23, officers attended at an address in Newton Village in relation to reports of an ongoing party. On arrival a number of people including young children were found within an address. All adults present were issued with fixed penalty tickets for breach of COVID 19 regulations.

On Thursday, April 23, officers were on mobile patrol in the Woodburn area when they observed a silver Fiesta being driven by a man they believed to be subject to an ASBO. The vehicle was stopped and a 28-year-old man was arrested for breaching his ASBO. He was conveyed to St Leonards station where he was charged and held in custody to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

NEWTONGRANGE / MAYFIELD:

On Wednesday, April 22, officers observed a white transit van parked in the carpark at Newbattle Medical Practice which they believed to be the same vehicle involved in a break-in to Market Cross Vets Practice, Edinburgh Road, Dalkeith, on 20. Enquiries confirmed it was the same vehicle and further showed a 38-year-old man exiting and entering the vehicle and matching the description of the suspect involved in the break-in to the veterinary practice. Officers quickly identified the man on CCTV and traced him to his home address where further evidential items were recovered in relation to the break-in. He was arrested and conveyed to St Leonards Police Station where he was charged with a business housebreaking to the vets, driving the van without a substantive drivers licence and driving without valid insurance for the vehicle. He was remanded in custody and held to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

GOREBRIDGE:

On Monday, April 20, at Lloyds Pharmacy, Main Street, officers were called in relation to a 41-year-old man who had entered the premises where he became verbally abusive to staff. Following enquiries the man was traced to his home address and issued with a recorded police warning.

On Monday, April 20, police were called to a disturbance at an address in Birkenside where a door had been forced open and a fight had taken place. On officers arriving a number of people were in the street and claimed the 49-year-old male occupier had been assaulted within his home address. Witness statements were noted and four persons were arrested at the scene and conveyed to St Leonards police station. As a result a 36-year-old man was charged with a section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licencing (Scotland) Act 2010, a 39-year-old man was charged with a breach of bail, a section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licencing (Scotland) Act 2010 and two assaults, a 25-year-old woman was charged with an assault, culpable and reckless behaviour and a section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licencing (Scotland) Act 2010, and a 35-year-old woman was charged with three assaults and possession of an offensive weapon. An undertaking report with special conditions has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

On Tuesday, April 21, officers were called to Main Street in relation to a man being verbally abusive towards another man in the street. On arrival statements were noted from the witnesses and the 39-year-old culprit was later traced to his home address where he was arrested, conveyed to St Leonards police station and charged with a Breach of Police Undertaking. He was held in custody to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

On Wednesday, April 22, officers were called to Caldwell Gardens in relation to persons seen in a field and throwing stones in the direction of nearby properties. On arrival, officers observed a man attempting to evade them by walking down a lane. The man was stopped and asked why he was walking the streets late at night and not following the current social guidelines. The 19-year-old man gave a number of different accounts for his being in the area but did admit he was not local, that he was from Aberdeen and had travelled for no legitimate reason. He further showed no intention to follow the guidelines and therefore was issued with a fixed penalty ticket for breach of COVID 19 regulations and conveyed to Waverley Station, Edinburgh so he could return on the next train to Aberdeen.

On Saturday, April 25 police received a call in relation to a man sitting in a vehicle at Thornycrook Gardens, where he was seen consuming alcohol. Officers attended and carried out a roadside breath test which the 35-year-old driver failed. He was conveyed to Livingston Police station where he was released on a Bail Undertaking once sober to attend at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

On Sunday, April 26, officers attended at Stobhill Road, Gowkshill, in relation to reports of a man being seen in possession of an air rifle. On arrival a man was traced nearby in possession of an air rifle and pellets. Further enquiry revealed he had a further air weapon and pellets in his home address which were also seized. The man was cautioned and charged with S19 Firearms Act 1968 and two offences under the Air Weapons and Licencing Act 2015. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

BONNYRIGG:

On Thursday, April 23, police received a call to Eskdale Drive in relation to a 19-year-old woman who was refusing to leave a garden. Officers attended and fully explained the current social guidelines, however she continually refused to comply and was verbally abusive throughout the conversation. The woman was conveyed to her home address and issued with a fixed penalty ticket for breach of COVID 19 regulations.

PENICUIK:

On Monday, April 20, at Bridge Street, police executed a drugs search warrant. The search recovered a quantity of controlled drugs and associated paraphernalia. A 47-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man have both been charged with offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. A report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

On Wednesday, April 22, officers were called to a property in Ladywood Court in relation to a noise complaint. On attendance officers found several men in a property having a party. They were all spoken to and given the opportunity to return to their respective addresses, however a 44-year-old man and a 42-year-old man became verbally aggressive and refused to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. Both men were issued with fixed penalty tickets for Breach of COVID 19 regulations and removed from the property.

On Wednesday, April 22, at Tesco carpark, officers stopped and spoke with a 44-year-old man who they found to be in possession of a personal quantity of cannabis. The man was issued with a recorded Police warning.

On Friday, April 24, officers attended a call to an address in Eastfield Drive in relation to a man shouting, screaming and being racially abusive. A 37-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the incident. He was held in custody until sober, then released to appear at court at a later date.

On Saturday, April 25 officers stopped a Transit van on Edinburgh Road. Noting that there was a smell of cannabis emanating from the vehicle officers carried out a search of the van and driver where a quantity of cannabis was recovered. The 29-year-old driver has been reported on summons to the Procurator Fiscal.