Thursday's crime news across Scotland includes a gangland figure appearing in court, the death of a schoolgirl's killer, and abuse victims receiving millions in damages.
Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel Appears in Court
Gangland figure Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel has appeared in court charged with organised crime and drug offences. The 46-year-old, understood to be head of the Daniel crime family, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday, August 27. Daniel, of Glasgow, was charged with taking part in organised crime and an additional four charges related to being involved in the supply and production of drugs.
He made no plea and was remanded in custody while the case was committed for further examination. He will be expected to reappear in court within the next eight days. He was arrested on Wednesday, August 26 following co-ordinated dawn raids in Glasgow.
Schoolgirl's Killer Dies in Custody
Donna Marie Brand, 47, who lured schoolgirl Caroline Glachan to her murder, died in custody on Wednesday, August 26. Brand was caged in December 2023 after being found guilty of murdering 14-year-old Caroline in 1996. She was jailed alongside Robert O'Brien, 45, and Andrew Kelly following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. Brand had been serving a life sentence at Corton Vale and was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years.
Caroline was murdered by the trio at the River Leven in West Dunbartonshire 30 years ago. The trial heard how the group arranged to meet the teenager on August 25 that year at a bridge near the river.
Rangers Co-Owner Arrested
Police bodycam footage has been released showing Rangers co-owner Jed York being arrested after he allegedly set up a £100 rendezvous with a sex worker at a trailer park. The 46-year-old pleaded no contest to a pair of misdemeanour charges on Monday after being arrested over the alleged prostitution offence in the state of Ohio on Sunday, around 9.35am local time.
Court documents state the San Francisco 49ers owner, whose family is worth an estimated £6.4billion, "arranged to have sexual activity with the female in exchange for $140 (£102)" in a trailer park in East Palestine. It's reported he responded to an advertisement from a known prostitution website in Columbiana County.
Abuse Victims Win £2.5m from MOD
Abuse victims of a predator army air cadet leader have won £2.5m in damages from the Ministry of Defence. Ronald Hardman, who has been dubbed the Jimmy Savile of the cadet force, preyed on boys over a 35-year period at the squadron in Kilmarnock. The 81-year-old was caged in 2018 after being convicted of attacks on three teenagers.
However, a huge investigation – resulting in 300 former cadets speaking to police – sparked fresh allegations. Hardman was caged again in May last year after a jury took just 15 minutes to find him guilty for molesting two further teenage boys. He was already behind bars when he was sentenced to eight further years in jail. Following his latest conviction, victims are now receiving military compensation payments with individual settlements ranging from £150,000 to £750,000.
Man Admits Stabbing in Rangers Pub
George Stewart, 38, admitted striking Stephen Brown on the arm at The Louden Tavern in Glasgow's Duke Street on July 5, 2025. Mr Brown became involved after Stewart was said to have been targeted by another man. Stewart was sentenced to five years behind bars in 2020 for churning deadly street Valium pills from a flat in Dalry, North Ayrshire. Stewart and others pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to being involved in the supplying of Etizolam between February 1 and March 26, 2020.
