Friday's top crime stories from across Scotland include a luxury car torched in a Renfrewshire village, stadium closures for Rangers and Celtic, and a violent gang attack in Glasgow.
Luxury Motor Torched in Quiet Village
A police investigation is underway after a black Range Rover was destroyed by fire in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire. Residents were woken by loud bangs just after midnight on Friday as the vehicle, parked on Easwald Bank, went up in flames. The car is understood to have been dumped outside homes in April. Fire crews and police attended the residential street.
Old Firm Stadium Bans Issued
Rangers and Celtic have been ordered to play their next Scottish Cup home games behind closed doors following the chaos after last season's derby at Ibrox. Each club must also pay the away team £100,000 to cover lost revenue. The sanctions follow a disciplinary panel review of the March quarter-final, where fans invaded the pitch after Celtic's penalty shootout win. A 37-page independent review led to charges against both clubs. Earlier this week, three more arrests brought the total to 43.
Man Slashed in Glasgow Gang Fight
A man was slashed and another stamped on during a gang fight on Bridge Street in Tradeston at 11pm on Thursday. Footage shared on Snapchat shows hooded attackers chasing a man to a bus stop before launching a brutal assault. The incident occurred near the city's dispersal zone.
Rangers Hero's Daughter Terrorised by Ex
The son-in-law of former Rangers player Gordon Smith has avoided jail for abusing his influencer daughter Libby. Colin Stevenson, 43, of Lanark, admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards Libby, 37, over nearly three years, including preventing her family from visiting her and their newborn. He was given community service and banned from contacting her at Lanark Sheriff Court. The couple married in 2023, with former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan as a bridesmaid.
Rapist Cop Passed Vetting
PC Alan Greer, exposed as a serial rapist, passed police vetting despite two reports of criminal behaviour against women. His first victim is believed to be a woman he raped in her Glasgow home in 2012 after she reported a crime. Officers took her statement and left, but one returned alone hours later and attacked her. Police Scotland launched a major anti-corruption inquiry into Greer after the woman reported the assault.
