31/08/2011 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news: Not

proven - the case against hearts fan accused of a sectarian attack

on Celtic manager Neil Lennon. But John Wilson is found guilty of

breach of the peace. This criticism of thousand Crown Office handled

the case. The gap widens between how much we drink in Scotland

compared with people in England and Wales. And how much wine would you

drink in a week? About two bottles. More than you're supposed to.

I didn't think it was that much. The figures come as people in

Glasgow are warned they could lose their homes if they don't control

their children's underage drinking. Also ahead tonight: I'm live in the

Borders where thieves are stealing manhole covers and it is costing

tense of thousands of pounds and putting lives at risk. And in sport,

we'll have the latest comings and goings as the clock counts down on

the final hours of the transfer window. A fan who ran on to the

pitch at Tynecastle last May and punched the Celtic manager Neil

Lennon has been cleared of sectarian assault. John Wilson

admitted in court that he did assault Mr Lennon that night, but

the jury found the charges against him not proven. He was convicted of

a breach of the peace. The jury also removed a charge that that was

motivated by religious prejudice. The hand shakes hid tension, there

was haudge pressure on this tie. Every point crucial in the last few

games of season. The mood was said to be volatile and poisonous.

Hooper! Scores again! When Celtic scored, Hearts fan John Wilson went

mad. He ran on to the pitch, charged at the away team dug out

and lunged at Neil Lennon. In the witness stand, John Wilson admitted

shouting and swearing at Neil Lennon and admitted hitting him.

But the jury found the charge of assault not proven. And they

accepted his denials that he utter words of Lynnous nature. These

cases are difficult to prosecute and has been demonstrated, even

when you have a high visibility offence with many witnesses and the

offence in front of television cameras, bringing the religious

element into the charge may have been a mistake. 26-year-old John

Wilson said his dad's a Catholic and testifyed he has had his

daughter christened a Catholic and said he condemned sectarianianism.

Security manager, Peter Croy said he heard John Wilson swear and

shout sectarianian abuse. But John Wilson denied this and said Mr Croy

may have misheard one syllable. John Wilson has written an apology

to Len. The incident followed death threats to Neil Lennon. Hearts say

wills wis was banned for life. -- John Wilson. Wilson remains in

custody and he has been found guilty of breach of the peace and

will be sentenced later. Reevel Alderson joins us now. This verdict

might seem incredible to many people. Because according to the

outcome, there was no assault. Absolutely. It is a very strange

verdict. Yes, John Wilson admitted breach of the peace and has been

convicted. In terms of the assault. Let's look at the evidence. Which

we saw in the report. But let's look again. John Wilson comes on to

the pitch. He runs along the touch line and he attacks Neil Lennon.

That is as clear a case of assault as you can possibly imagine. It

took place in front of 16,000 people and in front of thousands of

television viewers and many more people have witnessed it. So why

did the jury come to this verdict? Well they had two charges, breach

of the peace and assault. In each case, there was a suggestion that

these were aggravated by racial prejudice. Sectarianian prejudice.

The jury deleted that from the breach of the peace charge. They

said it was a breach of the peace N temperatures of the assault they

took that out and then found John Wilson not proven on that charge.

They have acquitted. It is an incredible verdict and puzzled many

lawyers. What does the verdict say about the Scottish Government's

attempts to crackdown on sectarianianism? The Government

said they would legislate quickly, then they decided a -- to hold back.

I'm sure they are glad, because the world has seen an asaut in a match,

which the courts cannot bring a conviction on. Thank you. Scots are

drinking a lot more pure alcohol every year than the English and

Welsh and the gap is getting bigger. In fact, on average, every year, we

drink 2.2 litres more than people in the rest of Britain. But new

figures from the NHS suggest the problem drinkers might not be who

you'd expect. Our Health Correspondent, Eleanor Bradford, is

with me with more. Scotland still has a drink problem, but it's not

the people you might expect who are fuelling it. Sales of beer, cider,

and fortified wine have actually fallen since the mid-1990's. Sales

of alcopops and ready-mixed drinks have also fallen since they hit the

market a decade ago. Sales of spirits have remained constant.

It's wine that has seen the boom in sales. Sales have more than doubled

over a decade-and-a-half. What we're also seeing is a big rise in

people buying booze, especially wine, to drink at home. Off sales

have increased by half. So is it wine quaffing respectable people

who are now Scotland's problem drinkers? I think the more people

are drinking wine. And less spirits. The taste of it, generally eating

and drirching is a big part of what we do. -- drinking. It mixes well

with food. How much wine would you drink? In a week? About two bottles.

More than you're supposed to. really? I didn't think it was that

much. That according to one charity, is part of the problem. Tfrpblgt

focus is frequently on young people -- The focus is frequently on young

people and alcoholics and that allows people to say, it is not my

point and point over in the corner at the youth binge drinkers,

without looking at the binge wine drinkers. Who are not necessarily

involved in disorder. While England and Wales has seen a decline in

drinking in the last five year, the same is not happening in Scotland.

We're drinking as much as ever and enough for every adult to exceed

the recommended limits each week of the year. Thank you. Meantime,

people in Glasgow have been told they could lose their homes if they

don't control their children's illegal drinking. It's part of a

zero-tolerance approach to tackle violence and drunkenness in the

city centre. The police and council are to a clamp-down on street

drinking and there'll be tougher enforcement of the under-age rules.

But it also includes the introduction of a late-night chill-

out hour in the city centre. Laura Bicker reports. This is the dark

side of our relationship with booze. Violence, fuelled by alcohol

blights our streets. But today, a new task force met members of

affected communities and talked tough. We're fed up. I'm fed up.

Most decent communities and citizens in Glasgow are fed up with

the abuse of alcohol that goes on. And bluntly, we're determined to

enforce some decency around this. The sharp shock tactics start with

under age drinkers. If caught, parents are warned they could lose

their tenancies F they're caught with under age drinkers, children

could be referred to the child protection unit. There was always a

way to get it. We done it when we were younger. What would have

stopped you? Nothing. Your young you will get into trouble. They can

get it from people who will buy it for them. Some adults are still

going to buy it for them. Officers say that is something they will

tackle. They will patrol buses and trains and under age drinkers will

be stopped and taken home. Here in the city between 3 and 4am in some

bars there will be a chill out thour serve hot food and drinks and

stop everyone hitting the streets at the same time. Police officers

will record problems with new cameras. If it requires sharp shock

in certain places to give people a jolt, then we can do that. This is

a real blitz on our booze culture. The police say not all the measures

will work, but they say at least it is worthwhile trying. You're

watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come before 7:

Cleaning up after the zombies - the makers of the Brad Pitt movie say

their visit to Glasgow was a success, despite one unexpected

hiccup. The sun broke through and we sat around getting a sun tan and

not working. They promised us rain and we got sunshine. In sport: It's

transfer deadline day and the deadline approaches. Who goes..who

stays? We'll tell you the latest. And drama at the US Open tennis -

these pictures from Elena Baltacha's first round match. And

we'll let you know how Andy Murray is getting on in his - he's on

court now. Edinburgh's trams will after all travel along Princes

Street into the city centre. Less than a week ago, councillors

stunned project managers by voting to stop the line at Haymarket in

the west end. The SNP group abstained in that crucial vote, but

now say they'll support to run the line to St Andrew's Square. But

that'll cost them �230 million - which they'll have to borrow.

Here's Gavin Walker. Even by the standards of this project, the

development has been remarkable. Less than a week ago the council

voted on the trams project's future. The SNP group abstained and

councillors voted to end the line at Haymarket, rather than continue

to the city centre. That prompted fears for the city's and the

country's reputation. Today a U- It should go through that it will

come to the city centre. It is by no means ideal because the people

of the city have not got what they were promised that they have at

least got something better than they thought they would get last

week. The decision follows the announcement by the SNP at Holyrood

that it would withhold the remaining funding unless the rich

continued to the city centre. One date later the SNP group at the

Council announced its U-turn. It is another blow for public confidence

in the project. How much confidence do you have in Edinburgh council?

None at all. That is not very generous? No, but I do not have any

confidence in them at all. 0. the council changes its decision

next Friday, some may see that as a step forward but in actual fact, it

only takes us back to where we were last week, namely, to an incomplete

project in apparent disarray with very little financial 70. Many

people expect the final bill will now, as it stands, be more than �1

billion. A Strathclyde Police officer who

claimed she could not be bothered to arrest a suspected robber has

been freed by a judge six days into a 12 month sentence. Constable

Michelle Selby was convicted of attempting to pervert the course of

justice following the failure to arrest a man who was acting

suspiciously at a restaurant at 5:30am. She was released pending an

outcome of an appeal against a sentence.

Cocaine was �5 million has been seized from a boat which docked in

Ayrshire. The vessel is thought to have sailed across the Atlantic

from Colombia. The UK Border Agency says it is a major find. The 10

kilograms of cocaine that has been seized is, we believe, have a

particularly high purity and when that is broken down and cut for

street deals, it could make up to about 50 kilograms, worth �5

million. The significance of that is that we have stopped a huge

quantity of drugs from reaching the streets of Scotland and that in

itself is significant. Some of the other stories: Fire

crews are still tackling a blaze at a row of historic terraced houses

in Edinburgh. It broke out at a ground floor flat in Hazelbank

Terry's and has damaged several properties. Firefighters said the

narrow streets and historic nature of the buildings are making it

difficult to stop the fire spreading.

Figures released today reveal 28 % of college students are dropping

out of their full-time further education courses. Teaching grants

and fees for the causes add up to almost �500 million a year. The

Scottish Funding Council says the drawback figures reflect the fact

that almost a third of students come from disadvantaged

neighbourhoods. Opponents of the Aberdeen bypass

have confirmed they are pressing ahead with a further legal bid to

block construction of the road. Campaign group Roadsense will

appeal a judges' decision to throw out its claim that the public

inquiry into the bypass was unfair. An opposition petition calling for

Roadsense has the support -- calling for Roadsense to drop its

petition has the support of thousands of people.

The safety of drivers is being put at risk by thieves stealing manhole

covers from roads across the Borders. Police have condemned the

tests as reckless. For in the last few weeks, there

has been a total of 41 drain covers stolen in the Scottish Borders area.

These range from some on the A seven over to the A 68, a major

That is a significant number of firsts and it is not being done in

one go. People will be coming back to the area to steal the covers.

Our reporter is in the Borders now. This is a very serious story but

what is so attractive about manhole covers in the Borders? Put simply,

the thieves think there is a lot of money in these manhole covers. I am

here at the Scottish Borders Council headquarters and it was

stabbed here that first alerted the police to the theft of these cast

iron grating covers. As you have heard, they have been taken from

all over the Borders and they have also been taken from smaller minor

roads. You can imagine people swerving on minor roads to avoid

the holes that these deaths are leaving behind. Back here at the

council headquarters, I can show you exactly what the thieves are

taking. This is a drainage cover. Water from the road runs down into

this. It is leaving behind these big hole and you can imagine the

damage that would do to your tyre. Imagine being on a mud -- motorbike.

Even if you have a -- for the correct kit, it is still difficult

to remove a manhole cover but if they can manage it, they sell the

middle part. To buy a new drain cover is �50. A thief would get an

absolute fraction of the cost. But thinking about the cost involved,

the Scottish Borders Council are talking about �20,000 worth. That

is to repair the thefts and damage. Police are concerned about safety.

If you see somebody looking or acting suspiciously around about

these, report it to the police or the council.

David has been looking through some transfer windows.

I spent most of my days just staring out of the window but today

if it is transfer deadline day and that mean clubs that will have --

have until 11pm to buy and sell players. The who is in and who's

out? Our senior football reporter has had his telephone glued to his

ear today. What is happening? It is the usual deadline day

madness. As usual in the past few years, it has been more speculation

and rumour that actually deals being sealed. The one that looks it

did -- looks like it is going through his Sean Maloney's move

from Celtic to Wigan. This morning he had a medical. I have spoken to

the club and they say that as our - - far as they're concerned the

medical is finished and they ate say he should sign a three-year

deal this evening. He was at Aston Villa for a short spell before

moving back to Celtic in 2008. So he's going back to the English

Premier League yet again. With other strikers at Celtic, George

Samaras and Gary Hooper attracting interest. George Samaras, I believe,

is not keen to leave, and the club is not keen to lose Gary Hooper.

Another Celtic striker, Anthony Stokes, has been having his say in

the imminent departure of Sean Maloney. I wish him the best. He is

a top professional and great player. I wish him all the best. He has

been hampered with injuries for the last while and even while I have

been here, he has struggled with injuries but if he can keep himself

fit he is a top player who will cut it at the very highest levels.

Any inns and out at Rangers? So far, no. Leicester City had a

bit of five points �6 million rejected last night for you love it.

There has been plenty speculation. -- For Jelavic sh. Rangers would be

very unhappy to lose him. They have told me that unless it is silly

money then Nicky did delegate is going absolutely nowhere. --

Nikitta yellow fit. There are just over five hours before the transfer

window closes and anything is possible, absolutely anything. Stay

tuned to BBC radio and online for all the latest.

Just as Chris was talking to waive their someone answered his phone

behind him and told us Sean Maloney has in fact now signed for Wigan.

As that transfer deadline creeps ever nearer, as to Scotland's

European Championship qualifying matches against Czech Republic and

Lithuania at Hampden. Wins over both nations would give Scotland a

real chance of qualifying for a place in the play-offs. The Czech

Republic are first up on Saturday but is it win or bust for our Euro

2012 hopes? We have always said that we have to do well. I think it

is important that we focus on the game and try to win the match now.

It has been a long week but Andy Murray is finally about to get his

latest shot at US Open glory. In the last few minutes he has come on

court for his first round match Feydeau's world number 64 Somdev

Devvarman. Andy Murray reached the final in New York three years ago.

News of Scotland's other British number one now, Elena Baltacha is

through to the second round although there was a dramatic end

to her match. She was 5-1 up in the deciding third set against Jamie

Hampton when this happened. The unseeded American collapsed on

court. She was unable to continue and forfeited the match. Baltacha

then helped give her opponent some first aid. When she could not get

up I knew I had to run over and help that out. It is really hard.

It is hard here and I guess it just shows how important it is to always

look after what you eat and drink. Here is a complaint you do not hear

too often. The Scottish weather is too sunny and to dry. That is what

the producers of the Brad Pitt movie being filmed here have been

saying. We caught up with the team as they prepared to head back to

Holyrood. Zombies are terrorising the streets

of Glasgow, but not for much longer. At midnight tonight, George Square

will be returned to its former state when the production crew from

World War Z called It's a wrap. Filming has taken place on a closed

set but today we can catch a glimpse of how have the square has

been transformed into Philadelphia. In the last couple of weeks we have

seen expressions, car crashes and flesh-eating zombies. The film-

makers were attracted to Glasgow because of its grid structure and

architecture. They also came for the weather. We were shooting in

the shallows for continuity but then the sun came out for a couple

of days. They promised us rain and we got sunshine. It is the only

promise the city break. Mika is one of the biggest film production has

to come to Glasgow. -- World War Z. They can see what can be done in

Glasgow and how the council has worked with the production company

to make it happen. It is a good jaw Giselle Glasgow to other

productions. The council predicts the film could generate millions of

pounds for the local economy. has been very busy at times. People

have been coming down as film tourists. Some die Hard movie fans

hoping to see Brad Pitt have been coming to the set every day,

including, perhaps, his youngest band. We have been down here pretty

much every day, as sad as it sounds. What do you think Lucy makes of it

all? She thinks her mother should ghetto life!

Film-makers are hoping the level of interest in World War -- in World

War Z will translate to the box office.

Who cares about Brad Pitt? We want The end of the Meteorological

summer and to underline what has been disappointing all summer, a

disappointing day. Cloudy and drier and it will stay that way into this

evening. We can see the blanket of cloud that most of us have been

underneath today and that will hang around tonight as well. Perhaps one

or two outbreaks of drizzly rain in northern coastal areas. One or two

clear skies. Temperatures higher in Tomorrow, a dry and cloudy start

for most of the country, similar to this morning. Then wind from the

sad stops to pick up in strength and hopefully that should break-up

cloud and we will see more Further north around the Murray

Firth -- the Moray Firth. The rest of the afternoon and into the

evening, the wind of the West Coast will increase in strength. Higher

at times. Rain coming into western parts of the country. That is

associated with the low-pressure For Friday, pretty wet in the South

and the West but more light and patchy than anything heavy. The

further east you are, a drier story. Into the first half of the weekend,

the rain finally cleaning through and we should season clearance by

the end of the day but the timing is a little uncertain. For the

second half of Saturday and the first half of Sunday, dry but then

another low-pressure system pushes its way in and that will bring rain.

The time is a little uncertain about that. You can keep up-to-date

Twitter is everywhere! The FA and -- the fan who attacked

a Neil Lennon has been cleared of assault. John Wilson admitted he

did assault Mr Lennon but a jury found the charges not proven. He

was convicted of breach of the beach -- piece.

Yvonne Fletcher was gunned down 27 years ago by someone inside the

Libyan embassy in London. Now there are reports that one of the main

suspects, a key figure in the Gaddafi regime, may still be in the

country. New figures from the NHS suggest

the gap is widening between the amount of our Praha consumed in

Scotland compared with England and Wales. On average, huddles in