A SELKIRK man who used to run a chip shop in the town but later became brothel-keeper in Edinburgh has been jailed for five years.

Robert Munro, 61, (pictured) was convicted after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh of money-laundering, living on the earnings of prostitution, as well as keeping a brothel – all aggravated by a connection with serious organised crime.

A co-accused, Margaret Paterson, 60, was also jailed for five years. A third accused Ian Goalen who pleaded guilty to living on the earnings of prostitution was sentenced to a Community Payback Order of 150 hours.

The Scotland-wide sex operation was based at premises in Grosvenor Street, in Edinburgh and the offences dated from 2001 until police moved in during 2011.

Munro and Paterson laundered over £1.2million and the Crown Office has started confiscation proceedings.

After sentencing, Lindsey Miller, the head of the Crown’s Serious Organised Crime Division, said the conviction demonstrated their commitment to bring to justice those who exploited others and who sought to benefit from crime.

Miller added: “Margaret Paterson and Robert Munro exploited vulnerable women for their own profit, running a large network of prostitutes across Scotland and laundering the proceeds of their criminal activities.”

Munro ran a chip shop on Selkirk High Street and for many years was a member of the local pipe band.

Paterson and Munro operated under a variety of names including Scottish Playmates, Kittens, Berkeley Ladies, Aberdeen Escorts and Edinburgh Escorts.

Farms along the coast in Berwickshire and in Lauder have been targeted by thieves, police have revealed today.

The incidents happened at various locations over the weekend and officers are seeking information, with thousands of pounds worth of property stolen.

Several items of property including a generator, garden strimmers and a petrol chainsaw were taken during these thefts.

In addition, a Ford Focus car and diesel fuel was also taken.

Officers are now urging anyone who remembers seeing suspicious activity in or around Borders farmland over the weekend to contact police immediately.

Farmers and rural workers are reminded to take the appropriate security measures to ensure their home or business is not an easy target for criminals.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Farms and rural properties are often considered attractive propositions for would-be thieves, given their remote locations in many instances.

“However, by making sure that your land is properly secured will deter criminal activity.

“Outbuildings and vehicles should always be locked securely when unattended and where possible, alarms and CCTV cameras should be considered.

“Ensuring items of value are stored out of sight will also help protect your property and storage containers for fuel should also be placed in areas that are not easily visible to other members of the public.

“Anyone looking for more information on crime prevention can contact their local policing team.”

Police are appealing for information after a buzzard was found dead near Heriot.

The discovery was made on Sunday, June 30 by a member of public next to a forestry plantation at Carcant Hill.

The bird of prey was in a badly decomposed state but forensix analysis has shown it had been shot with a shotgun pellet.

While tests have been unable to confirm if this injury resulted in the buzzard’s death, police are keen to hear from anyone who can assist with their enquiries.

PC Hannah Medley, Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer for Police Scotland, said: “This buzzard has been deliberately shot at some point, which is a crime.

“What we cannot establish at this time is where the bird was shot, or whether the injury caused its death and so anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

Innerleithen and District Community Council is looking for new members to fill six vacant seats.

Nominations open tomorrow and if more than six names are put forward a ballot of local electors will take place.

Returning officer councillor Gavin Logan said: “Innerleithen and District Community Council has been part of so many successful projects in the area - they really are a credit to the community they serve.

“New members always bring new ideas and ways of working with them and they keep groups, like community councils, invigorated.

“I urge local residents to put their names forward to join the community council and contribute to the ongoing success of this organisation.”

Nomination forms are available from.scotborders.gov.uk/communitycouncilelections, or from Ruth Kerr, Innerleithen CC secretary, at 2 Waverley Mills.

Completed forms should be placed in the ballot box in Innerleithen Post Office by midday on Thursday, August 8.

Depending on the number of valid forms received, the new community council members will be announced on Thursday, August 15.

The community council area covers from Blake Muir in the south to Leithen Hopes in the north.

Borders MP Michael Moore is to meet with Borders Police Commander Chief Superintendent Jeanette MacDiarmid ahead of a review of stations in Scotland.

The Police Scotland consultation will look at the opening hours of public desks, with many fearing a reduction, and even station closures, as the single force faces an increasingly challenging financial climate.

Mr Moore said: “Access to local police stations is very important for people here in the Borders so I am very concerned that this review could see opening times reduced and even office closures in the area.

“I am meeting with our local police divisional commander very soon and I will be urging her to ensure that Borderers do not see a reduced service at local police offices as a result of this review.”

Sunny weather has greeted the start of Kelso Civic Week. And organisers say the biggest crowd in recent years attended the celebrations’ family day in Shedden Park on Sunday.

Kelso Laddies’ Association secretary Richie Allan said: “It was a great success, the weather really brought people out. The week, altogether, has been very good so far.

“Kelso Laddie Calum Thomson is attracting a good following and we are hoping for the fine weather to continue.”

Tuesday evening’s rideout to Stichill, Hume and Ednam saw the Kelso principals dancing the reel at Ednam and the cavalcade take a welcome stop at Hume.

Two pedestrians heard a woman screaming and contacted police, who found her in the street bleeding and bruised.

Drunken Steven King had shared a litre bottle of vodka with his partner prior to the offence at his Overhaugh Street home in Galashiels on Friday.

The 44-year-old appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court, pictured, on Monday and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards his partner, struggling and fighting with her.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told how the couple had resumed their relationship in recent weeks after a period of separation.

She said they began drinking at 11am and throughout the day consumed a litre bottle of vodka.

When the woman became upset over a recent bereavement, King tried to console her.

Ms Bradley went on: “She wanted to be left alone, but he persisted and kept trying to cuddle her, telling her to calm down. There was a physical altercation, in the course of which she sustained a bang to the head.

“Two people walking nearby could hear a female screaming, as if pleading for help, and were sufficiently concerned to call the police.”

Officers found the woman in Overhaugh Street with a scratch to her arm, cut to her head, blood on her face and a bruise to the neck.

“An ambulance was called and she was treated in the back,” explained Ms Bradley.

The woman told police there had been a tussle between the couple, adding: “He is just a bully”.

Defence solicitor Ed Hulme said: “The relationship becomes volatile when alcohol has been consumed.

“An argument escalated because they wanted to watch different things on the TV,” he added.

Mr Hulme said his client had moved to Galashiels four months ago to work on the new railway line.

Sheriff Jamie Gilmour sentenced King to a three-month community payback order, with 60 hours of unpaid work.

A 28-year-old man made a private appearance at Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday, charged with rape in Hawick on July 9.

Emilian Krol, from Reading in Berkshire, was remanded in custody by Sheriff Derrick McIntyre, pending a further appearance tomorrow (Friday).

Krol, who also faces a second allegation of threatening and abusive behaviour, made no plea or declaration.

SENTENCE DEFERRED

A 49-year-old who repeatedly chased another man in Galashiels had sentence deferred until August 12 for reports.

Edward Tams was due to stand trial by jury, but pleaded guilty to an amended charge.

Tams, formerly of Galashiels and now living in Drumlanrig Court, Hawick, appeared on indictment and admitted having a Stanley knife at Stirling Street, Galashiels, on November 21. He also pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, repeatedly chasing a man.

DENIED CAR FIRE CONSPIRACY

Two men who deny planning to set fire to a car will stand trial by jury on September 9.

Nineteen-year-old Neil Brown, of Annfield Gardens, Galashiels, and Glen Douglas, 21, of Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, are alleged to have conspired to set fire to a vehicle at Croft Road, Lauder, on September 18. Brown also denies stealing a set of car keys, taking away a car without the owner’s consent at Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, and driving without insurance.

A further first hearing was set for August 19.

‘LOST TRACK OF TIME’

A 16-year-old has been remanded in custody for reports after breaching a bail curfew.

Jordan Simpson, who was on three bail orders at the time, was told by Sheriff Jamie Gilmour he had shown “little regard for court orders”.

Simpson, of Weensland Road, Hawick, admitted breaching a bail curfew at Kenilworth Avenue in the town on July 13.

Ed Hulme, defending, said his client suffered from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and had “lost track of time”, adding: “He knows he is on thin ice, but this was not as malicious breach.”

Simpson will be sentenced at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on August 9.

DRUNK JED MAN BREACHED BAIL

When police were flagged down about a drunken man urinating near a children’s play park, he was found to be in breach of bail.

George Anderson was remanded in custody for sentencing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court next Friday (July 26).

The 44-year-old, of Bountrees, Jedburgh, pleaded guilty to breaching bail at Canongate, Jedburgh, on Friday.

“Police on mobile patrol were flagged down by a member of the public, to say that a man was extremely drunk and was urinating near the children’s play park,” explained prosecutor Tessa Bradley.

“They found him next to a fence post, clearly drunk and unsteady on his feet. A check was carried out and he was found in breach of a bail curfew,” she added.

Defending, Ed Hulme conceded his client had a lengthy record for dishonesty, adding: “The good weather and the local festival saw him drink more than normal, and he lost track of time.”

REMANDED IN CUSTODY

A 51-year-old man charged with breaching bail was remanded in custody for trial.

Krysztof Niemec, of Fisher Avenue, Hawick, denies breaching a bail condition at a house at Laidlaw Terrace, Hawick, on July 13. He will stand trial on August 20, with an intermediate hearing on Wednesday.

TEENAGER MADE THREATS

A drunken teenager who breached an ASBO (antisocial behaviour order) was fined £300.

McRae Fairbairn, of Grovehill, Kelso, admitted threatening others at Bowmont Street in the town on Monday.

Fairbairn was seen remonstrating with a group of males during the early hours of the morning.

As he approached them, he was heard shouting, “F*****g come on then”, before adding, “I don’t give a f**k about the police”.

Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, told the court: “It was clear he was under the influence of alcohol and officers told him to calm down.”

Checks revealed he was on an ASBO, and he was arrested and taken to Kelso police station where he made no reply to caution.

Fairbairn’s lawyer, Ed Hulme, said his client had recently turned 18 and had been out celebrating his birthday.

The solicitor went on: “He had too much to drink and says that the three males had been trying to wind him up.”

Sheriff Jamie Gilmour warned Fairbairn: “If this sort of behaviour carries on, you will end up in a young offenders’ institution.”

Trial date for Kelso man

A Kelso man was remanded in custody after he denied breaching a bail condition.

Stuart Carruthers, 41, of Roxburgh Street, is alleged to have failed to comply with a bail condition at The Mount and South Street, both Duns, on Saturday/Sunday.

He will strand trial at Duns Sheriff Court on August 14, with an intermediate hearing on July 31.

RELEASED ON BAIL

A Hawick man faces trial on October 16, with an intermediate hearing on September 18.

Bruce Turnbull, 33, of Ruberslaw Road, was released on bail after he appeared from custody and pleaded not guilty to breaching bail by allegedly attempting to contact a woman at McLagan Drive, Hawick, on July 13.

EIGHT MINUTES PAST DEADLINE

A Galashiels man who breached a bail curfew by eight minutes will be sentenced on September 2.

Glen Noble, 26, of High Buckholmside, appeared from custody and admitted breaching a 7pm-7am curfew in Church Square, Galashiels, at 7.08pm on Friday, July 12.

ASSAULT ALLEGATION

A 22-year-old man charged with assaulting a woman at a caravan park will stand trial at Duns Sheriff Court on November 20.

Liam Russell, of Dalhousie Avenue West, Bonnyrigg, appeared from custody and denied pouring a can of liquid over a woman at Pease Bay Caravan Park on Friday. He also pleaded not guilty to breaching a bail condition and possession of cannabis.

An intermediate hearing was set for October 23.

HOMES in the Kelso area have been targeted by thieves in recent weeks due to the warm weather, writes Jason Holland.

The opportunists are preying on homeowners who leave their property unlocked to take advantage of the sun.

A raider made off with two televisions from a farmhouse on June 17.

The homeowner had left the house for only a matter of minutes to drive down to a local shop – but during this time the thief managed to make off with the goods in a white van.

The householder returned to see the van drive off, but later police checks on the registration plates revealed they were fake.

The victim said: “It was very scary, I did not expect it at all.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson told The Southern that enquiries were ongoing into the incident.

The spokesperson added: “We would like to remind people to stay vigilant and to ensure their windows and doors are kept secure, particularly on days when the good weather means they are more likely to leave them unlocked.

“Members of the public with any information on opportunistic thefts should call Police Scotland on 101.”

Abbotsford House was subject to a fire alert last Friday – just over a week after The Queen officially reopened it.

However, fire crews soon discovered the alarm had been set off by dust.

A spokesperson on behalf of Abbotsford said: “The fire service did attend an automated call-out at 9am on July 12.

“This was triggered by dust from a vacuum cleaner when our cleaners were working in the private wing of the house, which is still undergoing refurbishment. Due to the 
important nature of 
Abbotsford and its collections, the fire and security systems at the house are very sensitive, however we will be giving 
additional training to our cleaning staff to try to prevent any future unnecessary call-outs.”

The home of Sir Walter Scott was reopened on July 3 following a £12million refurbishment, with around 500 guests in attendance, including Her Majesty The Queen.

Police are appealing for information after a buzzard was found dead near Heriot in suspicious circumstances, writes Kenny Paterson.

It is the second of the species to be killed in the last four months in the Borders, and the third bird of prey executed in the Heriot area in the last four years.

The latest death discovery was made on Sunday, June 30 by a member of public next to a forestry plantation at Carcant Hill.

The bird was in a badly decomposed state but forensic analysis has shown it had been shot with a shotgun pellet.

While tests have been unable to confirm if this injury resulted in the buzzard’s death, police are keen to hear from anyone who can assist with their enquiries.

PC Hannah Medley, Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer for Police Scotland, said: “This buzzard has been deliberately shot at some point, which is a crime.

“What we cannot establish at this time is where the bird was shot, or whether the injury caused its death and so anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Back in March, a dead buzzard was found next to a forestry plantation at St Mary’s Loch in the Yarrow Valley.

It was discovered by a dog walker close to the loch’s weir at Bowerhope on March 6.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman at the time said the bird had experienced a “cruel, slow and painful death”.

Although figures are not yet available for 2012, during the whole of 2011 only three birds of prey were killed in the Borders.

The latest find will be a concern to police after the new single force set up an enlarged wildlife unit.

Assistant chief constable Malcolm Graham – who hails from Chirnside – is responsible for the team, and told The Southern back in March: “Wildlife crime is different across the country, from people stealing freshwater pearls to poaching and raptor kills.

“There are people who have different ideas, but generally we find members of the public very willing to help with our ­inquiries.”

A buzzard was killed in January 2011 in the Heriot area while police and RSPB officers swooped on the Raeshaw estate in June 2009 after a Red Kite was poisoned.

A father of four from Kelso with a ‘zest for life’ was tragically killed whilst riding his motorcycle in Cumbria on Sunday.

Almost simultaneously, another motorcyclist suffered injuries which later cost him his life following a crash on the A699 between Selkirk and St Boswells.

Michael Bates, 47, was riding on the A683 at the Fat Lamb Hotel, near Kirkby Stephen, at 4.35pm when he and a fellow rider from Berwick collided with a tractor.

Mr Bates was airlifted to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, but died as a result of his injuries.

His family released a statement through Cumbria Police earlier this week. It read: “It is with great sadness that Michael has so tragically been taken from us.

“A keen motorcyclist for several years with a zest for life, Michael, who loved both home and work life, will be sorely missed by his wife Jacqueline, sons Tom and Mick, and daughters Jo and Sophie.”

The second motorcyclist, a 45-year-old man, was taken to hospital in Carlisle, where he was treated for minor injuries. The 20-year-old tractor driver was treated at the scene by paramedics.

John Southern, 60, from Blyth in Northumberland, was also airlifted to hospital after the Triumph Tiger he was riding crashed on bends near the Lindean junction at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Mr Southern, who was riding with a large group of other motorcyclist, collided with a Seat Leon car carrying three people. They suffered minor injuries and were taken to the BGH for treatment. Mr Southern, who was flown to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, passed away during Sunday night.

The road was closed for crash investigation work to be carried out and for a fuel spill to be cleaned up.

Issuing general motoring advice, Roads Policing Inspector Tracey Robinson said: “Our officers have been patrolling Scotland’s roads focusing on educating everyone about the vulnerability of certain groups of road users.

“It is disappointing that a number of motorists are still not heeding our advice. All road users must be aware of their surroundings at all times. This is particularly important when carrying out manoeuvres at junctions, roundabouts and whilst reversing.

“In particular, be aware of cyclists and motorcyclists who sometimes travel in groups. When one passes be aware that another could be travelling behind.

“It is imperative that motorists not only look but also see other road users.”

Local members of the Yes Scotland campaign will take to the streets of Galashiels on Saturday to argue their case for next year’s independence referendum.

The group will be in the town’s Channel Street from 10am to noon to discuss issues connected with the vote with members of the public.

The former chairman of Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee says he will not appeal against his three-month ban from the group.

Hawick councillor Ron Smith was handed the punishment at a hearing of the Standards Commission for Scotland after he was deemed to have failed to have declared an interest in a sandwich bar application in the town in July 2012.

The former geography teacher has since said he will stand down from the committee altogether, but maintains he was harshly treated.

He told The Southern: “The hearing rules allow me to appeal but I do not intend to do so.

“Having said that, I continue to believe I acted within the spirit of the Code of Conduct and its wording allows for different interpretations.”

Mr Smith spoke at length against the Buccleuch Street application – which was refused in a 6-5 vote – during the meeting last year.

He described the bid as a danger to road safety due to the fear that pupils from the nearby high school would gather in the area.

A year on, the Standards Commission ruled that, as the Kirk Session of nearby Teviot Church – where Mr Smith is registered as an elder and treasurer – had objected to the sandwich bar, he should have declared his interest.

Yet, Mr Smith says he did not take part in a Kirk Session discussion which agreed to oppose the application.

And he believes an objective test which exempts those on a committee whose non-financial interest is “remote or insignificant” absolved him of fault.

“However, the panel decided that since I had registered my interest as an elder on the Kirk Session, I was bound by whatever the session did, and must therefore have an ‘interest’ in the outcome of the case to which it had objected,” added Mr Smith, the former Hawick provost.

Council leader David Parker was critical of Mr Smith’s ban. He said: “I accept but am naturally disappointed with the Standards Commission decision – I believe this stemmed from a genuine difference in interpreting the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.”

An SBC spokesman said a replacement for Councillor Smith has yet to be appointed, with the next planning meeting scheduled for August 5.

TWO speed cameras cut off from their mountings in theBorders have re-appeared, at the bottom of a Northumbrian reservoir.

The cameras were discovered last month in Catcleugh Reservoir, which lies alongside the A68 just four miles south of the Carter Bar.

The dry spell had resulted in a substantial drop in the water level, exposing the dumped cameras, which lay in an overspill area close to the road.

They were discovered by Northumbrian Water staff on June 16.

Officers from Northumbria Police and Police Scotland attended and the cameras were identified as being those taken from north of the border.

Officers from the Scottish side of the border are leading the enquiry into their removal and dumping.

In March, the cameras at Huntford and Camptown, the first two on the Scottish side of the Carter Bar, were attacked.

They brought the total number of cameras on the A68 removed to six.

A month earlier the camera at Longnewton Sawmill, between Jedburgh and St Boswells, was removed.

The first attack of its kind occurred in October last year, when cameras at Birkenside, near Earlston, and at Headshaw, near Oxton, were cut off. One on Newtown St Boswells bypass was removed in December 2012.

A grieving stepdad has branded as crazy the possibility that the drug addict who killed Timothy Wallace could became a father while in jail.

Kevin Gibson, 34, was given a life sentence in 2004 for the brutal murder of Mr Wallace, 24, from Gala Park, Galashiels. He was killed at a hostel in Leith and his body crammed into a suitcase and tossed into the Water of Leith.

Gibson has to spend 15 years behind bars before being considered for release.

But Gibson and his wife Louise, 32, from Kelso, who were married in jail last year, have started a court action to allow them to have sex in prison in order that they can start a family. IVF is also an option. The Scottish Legal Aid Board is funding part of the couple’s conjugal rights bid.

The dead man’s stepfather, Martin Edmunds, 52, from Galashiels, blasted the move.

He told TheSouthern: “This is crazy, it is mental. He gave up his rights to father children when he did what he did, and how he did it.

“He was sent to prison as a punishment and when you go there you lose many of your privileges, and becoming a father is one. I am trying to work out how he can seriously be considered a suitable candidate for fatherhood.”

Judge Lord Dawson told Gibson when he was sentenced: “No words of mine can bring Timothy Wallace back to life. No words of mine can adequately express the public revulsion for your behaviour towards him, your friend.

Mr Edmunds told us: “ Yes, Timothy had problems, but because of what he [Gibson] did we will never know what he might have been. That was taken away. The privilege of being a father is reserved for people who behave – not for people who behaved like he did. He removed a young life.”

The bid by the Gibsons is under human rights laws.

Mobile phone users in Walkerburn and Innerleithen are connected again after nine days of disruptions.

An EE spokesperson, who operate the mast responsible for the issues, said today: “We are aware that customers in the Innerleithen area have been experiencing some problems with coverage.

“The disruption was due to a technical fault at a local mast which has now been fixed.

“Customers should now be receiving full coverage again and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The signal problems began on July 8, and on the Facebook page set up by disgruntled phone users, named Innerleithen and Walkerburn Campaign for Signal Back, one post today said: “Make sure you all push for some form of compensation as nobody should have to go nine days with no signal especially with the prices some of us pay for our contracts!!”

As yet, The Southern has not yet had a respond from EE on whether customers will be entitled to compensation.

Young Borderers who will receive exam results on August 6 will be able to get advice and support from Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

For the 21st year, SDS is providing a helpline for students, and the organisation’s head of careers management has urged students not to panic if they don’t get the results they want.

David Cameron said: “Young people may have done better than anticipated or not as well as expected, but the main thing is that they and their parents shouldn’t panic. There will always be options to consider.

“The first step is to call the helpline and discuss what the best options might be.”

He added: “The helpline is there to assist in finding the best next step for them on their career journey and we have a very wide range of services to do exactly that.”

Students can also access help, advice and support via SDS’s Facebook page which has answers to common problems, help on making the best career moves, practical tools and links to other relevant bodies such as UCAS, SAAS, Young Scot and the SQA.

There is also a wealth of post-results information for young people and their parents on the SDS My World of Work website - www.myworldofwork.co.uk.

The exam results helpline, which is generally free to call,, opens from 8am until 8pm on August 6 and 7, 9am until 5pm weekdays until August 14 and 10am until 6pm on weekends.

Advisers will be on hand to give unique access to information on UCAS course vacancies at colleges and universities across the UK, confirmation and clearing, advice about employment, training opportunities and exam re-sits.

The helpline number is 0808 100 8000.

The £250,000 fine issued to Scottish Borders Council after employee records were found in a recycling bin has been overturned at a tribunal today.

The forfeit was made in September last year by the Information Commissioner’s Office and although SBC paid up £200,000 straight away in order to achieve a 20 per cent discount, it also lodged an appeal.

The money will now be refunded in the coming months.

Council leader David Parker welcomed the result and criticised the ICO for the fine. He said: “To issue such a high monetary penalty on a public authority in this economic climate was excessive, especially when the breach was self-reported and officers took all appropriate steps on the discovery of this incident and co-operated fully with the ICO at all times.

“Data and information security is a priority at SBC - and I am confident that the work taking place across the Council to address any issues will be acknowledged appropriately in the future.”

Tracey Logan, chief executive of SBC said: “I am extremely pleased with the outcome and have always strongly believed that the monetary penalty notice issued by the ICO in this case was unjust and disproportionate.

“Of course, I acknowledge that there were gaps in our processes in this case - but we have taken significant steps to address these since the breach to ensure data protection continues to be a high priority across the Council.

“We are committed to continue to work with the ICO to ensure our processes and policies are as robust as possible.”

ICO said that more than 600 files were deposited at the recycle bins in the Lothians area by an outside company on behalf of the council, containing confidential information and, in a significant number of cases, salary and bank account details.

The files were spotted by a member of the public who called police, prompting the recovery of 676 files.

A further 172 files deposited on the same day but at a different paper recycling bank were thought to have been destroyed in the recycling process.

The council spent over £18,000 on the appeal but the verdict from the four-day Information Tribunal vindicated its decision.

National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland chairman Nigel Miller and his sons Andy and Malcolm of Stagehall Farm, Stow are to receive nearly £35,000 from the Scottish Government’s Rural Priorities Fund.

The money will be used to build a new shed and buy machinery for the family’s wood fuel processing, drying and marketing business.

Mr Miller said: “This will help woodland management through the development of a new market for local wood products and improve the environment from increased availability of a sustainable low carbon fuel with minimum timber miles.”

The Millers run 175 suckler cows and 950 Lairg type Cheviot ewes and grow spring barley and triticale as feed on their 550-hectare upland farm.

Qualified vet Nigel is a past chairman of NFU Scotland’s livestock committee and has been the union’s president since 2011.

Meanwhile the Scottish Beef Association is holding a farm walk at Crailinghall Farm, Jedburgh tonight when liver and rumen fluke and Schmallenberg will be discussed.

The Scottish Mule Association is holding an open day at Crookston Farm, Heriot on Sunday from 12 noon when there will be stock-judging, novelty competitions and a farm walk.

And local winners at the Great Yorkshire Show were: Bryan, Ian and Tom Walling, Over Whitlaw, Selkirk - champion Lleyn, reserve Belted Galloway; Ron and Robert Wilson, Cowbog, Kelso - champion Hereford; Whittaker Farms, Stickle Heaton, Cornhill - champion Charolais, reserve Aberdeen Angus,