21/12/2011 Reporting Scotland

Tonight on Reporting Scotland: Police hunt a rapist who attacked

two women in Glasgow early this morning. Tonight, we are live near

the scene of the attacks where extra police officers are on patrol

as women are warned to be on their guard.

A photo has been released of the man they want to talk to. Stay with

your friends. Very few people go out alone at night. Stay with your

friends and make sure you all go home together.

A man has been charged with assault after a teenager was removed from a

train by another passenger. How a legal row has meant the

bodies of an elderly couple have been left to the public mortuary

for 10 years. And, creating an island in the

Firth - the ingenious use of explosives in the construction of

the new Forth crossing. Police are hunting for a man who

raped one woman and carried out a serious sexual assault on another

in the space of 15 minutes in Glasgow city centre in the early

hours of this morning. The two women were on their way home from a

night out when they were dragged from the street. Laura Bicker is on

the street where both attacks took place.

These were two women just on their way home after a great Christmas

party. They chose this street, James Watt Street, to walk along.

This is a main city-centre street which leads straight to the Clyde

and the bridge over the Clyde. The first attack took place at 3:55am.

The woman was approached by her attacker. He said a few words

before dragging her of the street and raping her. The next attack

took place just 15 minutes later. One woman was hospitalised. Both

women are said to be traumatised. The night, police have launched a

manhunt. This is the man police are hunting.

He spent an hour prowling the city centre streets. He seems to be

looking for something, or someone. He has been wondering about that

area for quite a period of time. He is quite smartly dressed and looks

like he has potentially come from a Christmas party or a night out, or

been out with friends. The first victim was raped just before 4am.

The 20-year-old had been on her way home from a night out. The next

attack on a 22-year-old took place in the same street, just 15 minutes

later. They are extremely distressed by what has happened to

them, and that is why it is crucial that anyone with information comes

forward to help us. As officers investigate, they are aware that

people walk the streets every day and will be alarmed. Already we

have additional officers within the city at this time of the year.

However, tonight and in the coming days, we will increase that and

have a significant number of police officers there. Officers have

described these attacks as despicable. They say cat and the

man responsible is now a matter of urgency. -- catching the man.

Can you tell us any more about this man? Within the last few minutes,

police have released CCTV images of the manner that they are looking to

speak to. He is said to be around 20 to 30 years old. He is about 5

ft 8 to five foot 10 inches in height. He was well dressed with a

black, dark coloured Fitted shirt, dress trousers, and dress shoes.

They say he looked as if he had been on a Christmas night out

himself. They are keen to speak to him. If he looks like someone you

know at home, they are urging you to pick up the phone and call them.

They are also sending out a warning to women who might be out on the

streets tonight after a night out, asking them to look after

themselves, take public transport home if they can, or a taxi. They

are asking them to stay with friends, stay close by and look

after one another. There will be extra police on the streets, and as

we are talking, there are two police officers on horseback

patrolling the streets tonight. They are hoping that will keep

people safe. Police have charged a man with

assault after an alleged fare dodger was removed from a train by

a passenger. Video of the incident, shot by another passenger on the

Edinburgh to Perth service, has attracted nearly 2 million hits on

YouTube. Catriona Renton reports. This is the mobile phone footage

which has caused such a sensation on the internet. It shows a

conductor and a teenager arguing over a train fare 12 days ago. Then,

this man, 35-year-old Allen, intervenes. He removes the teenager

from the train. He has since been dubbed "the Big man". Today, he was

charged with assault. I think it is outrageous. He should have got a

medal for that. I think he should have been charged with assault. He

did physically assault the person, and he was not in a position of

authority to take action like that. It seems fair enough. I think that

is a bit harsh. To me, it sounded like if the guard on the train

could not do his job, then somebody giving him a helping hand. Public

opinion on the actions appear to be split. This is going to be a

terrible Christmas for Mr Pollock and his family with this hanging

over him. Clearly it is a case that has divided the country, polarised

opinion. I just wonder in the circumstances whether he should

actually be prosecuted, or whether the fiscal looking at this might

just decide the public interest is best served by a warning letter,

rather than a trial. Meanwhile, the student accused of fare dodging has

also been reported to the procreative is God. No charges have

been brought against him. Prosecutors will now decide whether

either man will face further proceedings. BBC Scotland can

reveal that the bodies of an elderly couple have lain in a

public mortuary for the past 10 years, because of a legal wrangle.

Edinburgh City Council says it has been unable to gain family consent

to either bury or cremate the two bodies and, until they do so, they

say their hands are tied. Kevin Keane has this exclusive report.

Edinburgh's city mortuary, where corpses are brought for storage or

investigation. For that past decade, this draw has held the body of a

man who died of prostate cancer at the age of 91, alongside his wife

who died a few years earlier. The stalemate stems from the next of

kin's refusal to give consent for burial. In a statement, Edinburgh

City Council, which runs at the How they were placed in the

mortuary in 2002 is bizarre and leads back to this property, now a

double glazing shop. They were found mummified in the basement

here and, for years, were frequently visited by a son who had

struggled to accept his parents' death. When they were discovered,

the father had already been dead for eight years. The mother for 15.

Both deaths had been registered under law after an initial police

investigation into they find, no charges were brought. This law

academic who specialises in mortality told me he believes the

council does have the power to act. If no one else is dealing with it,

the council have a right and a duty, a statutory duty, requiring them to

attend to the proper disposal of the bodies in these cases. The

family have no veto on that at all. It is not unusual for bodies to be

stored for long periods, but it is generally if they can't be

identified. That situation led to a high profile mixed up in England

earlier this year when the body of Christopher Alder was found in a

mortuary 10 years after his family thought they had buried him. The

body of an unidentified woman had been released by mistake. We have

tried to make contact with the next of kin, but so far without success.

I understand though, that the council have been in regular

communication with them as recently as this year. As a result of our

story, they are planning to get in touch again in the hope of bringing

to an end this long-running dispute. You're watching Reporting Scotland

on the BBC. Still to come on the programme: An explosive start for

work on the new Forth crossing. And, a fisherman gives doctors the

thumbs-up after they repair his hand, using one of his own toes.

In sport, we will hear from the record-breaking rugby international

who has announced his retirement. And the Scottish football manager

who has to put up with the sort of thing on a weekly basis. All that

later. The Scottish government is

promising the construction of a new 4th a thing will mean a jobs

bonanza for Scots firms. -- Forth crossing. It says it will support

more than 1,200 jobs and pump millions of pounds into the economy.

Our transport Correspondent David Miller reports.

It is blast-off for work, new Forth crossing. This tiny island will

provide the foundations for the bridge's central support tower.

Workers also under way on the shores of the 4th. This is the

biggest construction project in Scotland for a generation. But,

until now, they have not been too much to see right here on the site

of the new crossing. All that is set to change when the project

steps up a gear in 2012. The project has been controversial from

the start, but ministers insist there will be huge economic

benefits. Jobs, jobs, jobs. They have allocated �20 million of sub-

contracts to 118 Scottish companies and there are 1 34 sub-contracts

now being advertised on top of that. So, there are real opportunities

for all types of businesses in Scotland to bid for this work.

total cost of the projects could be as high as �1.6 billion. Bosses say

for once Scottish taxpayers can have confidence when they hear the

phrase on time and on budget. will deliver a state-of-the-art

product, a state-of-the-art structure. At the end of the day,

in terms of immediate delivery, we will deliver jobs and opportunity

to people. But, this is a bridge too far, according to campaigners,

who say the new crossing will come at a huge crossed to the

environment. As far as we are concerned, this is a second Forth

road bridge, an additional Bridge. We already have one, and it looks

as if it could be repaired. The new bridge will open in 2016, so in

just a few years' time the 19th century rail bridge and the 20th

century road bridge will be joined by a new crossing for the 21st

century. Despite widespread cuts to many

public services, universities are about to receive a bumper

settlement from the public purse of over �1 billion. But there are

strings attached. Scotland's higher education institutions are being

told to accept more students from less well-off backgrounds, and do

more to turn their research into business and jobs. Here's our

education correspondent. Students across Scotland took to

the streets to protest about cuts. Today, good news - the universities

but it is a back-up to at �1 billion. But the keepers of the

public purse won't -- want changes in return. Anybody from any

background in Scotland should be able to study at university if they

wish to do so. Secondly, if they want to have courses that are

provided that allow people to study when they want and where they want.

So, they want universities to accept more students from less

well-off backgrounds, of more part- time and fast-track degrees, and

become more efficient. But, for colleges across Scotland, funding

is very different. Many are being forced to merge. Last week,

students set out their concerns. main issue is the proposed cuts to

disabled students' allowance. I think it is ridiculous. If they are

going to merge colleges, we do need more funding. Student leaders are

welcome the money for universities, but worry about colleges.

Government are proposing a 20% cut over the next few years, but we

have already seen a 10% cut last year. We are worried about what

that will mean in terms of the number of places and opportunities.

Universities are to have more money partly because, it is hoped, more

of their world-class research will turn into businesses and jobs for

Scotland. But does the deal come at a potential price, freedom? This

Scottish government body says it does not want to take more control

over the universities. They will continue to enjoy academic freedom.

But, in return for handing over �1 billion of public money, it wants

them to focus on key government goals. In the end, in these tough

times, today's deal means more students and staff feeling more

A Territorial Army Major has appeared in court to face criminal

charges relating to the death of a 14 year old cadet during training

in the Western Isles. 51-year-old George McCallum was involved in the

boating trip on which Kaylee MacIntosh drowned four years ago.

He's been charged under Health and Safety laws. A fatal accident

inquiry blamed poor planning, bad equipment and human error.

A request for Scottish police officers to travel to Libya as part

of their ongoing investigation into the Lockerbie bombing is expected

to be made very soon. Our correspondent has been following

the story. How significant a development is this? Potentially,

it is a very significant. The authorities have, for a long time,

believed that there are answers to the Lockerbie bombing in Libya, but

they have not been able to get access to Libya. That has all

changed recently. They are hoping for corporation from the new Libyan

government and that could see detectives in Libya, talking to

witnesses and possibly suspects. It is now 23 years since the bombing,

when it 270 people died. If detectives do get to Libya, they

will be detectives from the Dumfries and Galloway force. Only

one man has been convicted of the atrocity, Abdul Basset Ali Al

Megrahi. It has been a very long process. When can be expected

detectives to be on the ground in Libya? This is part diplomacy and

part investigative work. The diplomacy part will happen in the

new year when it this letter of request will be sent to Libya.

Assuming that that goes well, detectives in the new year will be

hoping to travel to Libya. Some of the other stories across

Scotland this Wednesday. All ferry fares in Scotland could

become cheaper under a government scheme aimed at lowering costs on

West of Scotland ferries. Currently, operators set the individual tariff

for each route. But under the proposals, a sea journey will cost

the same as an equivalent road journey.

The cross-border sleeper service is in line for �100 million worth of

improvements. The Scottish Government has announced plans to

match the promise of �50 million from the UK government. The

Westminster money was earmarked in the Chancellor's autumn statement

on condition that the Holyrood administration made a similar

investment. A teenager is to stand trial

accused of assaulting Rangers player Kyle Lafferty in a

supermarket car park. 16-year-old Reice Harrison is alleged to have

thrown a stone at the Ibrox star or his car, causing damage to the

vehicle. He is also charged with breach of the peace and uttering

sectarian remarks in the Morrison's store car park in Johnstone last

A fisherman who lost his thumb in an accident at sea has undergone a

rare operation to replace it. Surgeons grafted a toe from Donald

Gunn's left foot on to his hand in place of his missing digit. Steven

Duff reports. Just one week ago, this new thump

on at Donald Gunn's right hand was a toll on his left foot. I am a

fisherman. I was working a crane at the time and it happen that quick,

I lost my thumb. More than a year after that accident, a gruelling 12

our long operation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary gave Donald his

thumb back. It is a real operation. -- it is an unusual operation. You

have to have the right circumstances. You cannot tie your

shoelaces. I could not play darts. The expectation is that on a will

be back to the dartboard and work sometime in the new year. It seems

to be successful at the moment. He is able to bend it and straighten

it. He does not seem to be in pain. And his foot has healed very well.

It is an early stage. But you can see it moving. Just very slightly.

Before David brings us the sport, some news of sporting events of a

sort coming to Edinburgh. Organisers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay

celebrations are calling on revellers to compete in the city's

New Year Games. The two teams will be the Uppies, for people from

northern areas, and the Doonies for those from the south. They'll have

the chance to play giant board games and go on secret missions

around the capital. I do not know what that is all about!

Are you an uppie or a doonie, David?

It's the end of an era for Scottish Rugby. The country's most capped

player and record points scorer is retiring from the international

game. Chris Paterson can bask in the praise of, among others, the

national coach Andy Robinson who describes him as one of our

greatest players. Here's our rugby reporter Jim Mason.

It was fitting that Chris Paterson announced his retiral at

Murrayfield, the scene of some of his greatest triumphs. This is

Paterson. Press may have been a light weight when it came to size,

but he was a big player for his country. Why retire now? My thought

was to retire after the World Cup. That last game in Auckland was

something special. I think if the Six Nations had come after that,

about a month after that, it would have been different. The statistics

How good was he for Scotland? He was a will-o'-the-wisp a man that

could take. -- kick. He won his one hundredth cap for Scotland against

Wales but suffered a ruptured kidney in the match. But he came

back. What is his favourite statistic? I am not one for self-

promotion. But my body weight probably. I unable to compete with

some of these monsters. -- I am able. The giant Killer retires, but

his Scotland legacy will be a lasting one.

Hearts have avoided being put into liquidation by the courts after

paying a six figure tax bill. A winding-up order imposed last week

has now been withdrawn. Meanwhile Hearts midfielder Eggert Jonsson

has played his last game for the club. A fee of �200,000 has been

agreed with English Premiership side Wolves.

It seems Aberdeen are admitting their winger Peter Pawlett may have

dived to win a penalty against Hibs on Saturday. At least, the club

have accepted the Scottish FA's offer of a two match ban for

simulation, but the Dons are appealing his sending off which

happened later in the match. Now we all feel under pressure at

work from time to time, but not many of us have protestors

demanding we get the sack turning up at the workplace.

But it's becoming a regular occurence for the Glaswegian

manager of Blackburn Rovers. Their defeat by Bolton leaves them at the

foot of the English Premier League, but Kean believes he's still got

the backing of the club's owners. There is not a board meeting due. I

spoke with the owners before the game. They know our position with

injuries and I am sure that everyone will stick together and we

will get through it. That is a sport. I have decided. I am

definitely one of the doonies. definitely one of the doonies.

It will be a mild night. Strong winds continue from the south-west.

Rain in the north-west Highlands it down towards it Stirling. Elsewhere,

misty, murky conditions. Temperatures are dropping to just

10 or 11 Celsius. Cooler in the North-East. Into tomorrow, it is

almost to the cement -- it is almost the same as today. In the

afternoon, another mild day. Temperatures of up where they

should be for this time of year. The wind will be strong from the

south-west. Some sunshine in the north-east. In the sunshine, we

could see a high of 13 Celsius. The rest of the afternoon and the

evening, we have this band of rain moving down. It is a cold front and

a dividing line between that milder air before that and that cold air

behind. Friday is a much colder day. The rain will clear away on Friday,

leaving dry and bright conditions for much of Scotland. Wintry

showers in the north-west. By the end of the day, those will have

moved into the central belt. Enter the weekend, it will not be a white

Christmas, it will be a wet and windy Christmas. Rain in the north-

west of the country, also in the central belt. On Christmas Day, a

wet day with strong winds from the south-west. That is the forecast.

Now a summary of tonight's top stories.

Police are searching for a man who raped two women within just 15

minutes on the same street in Glasgow city centre. The women were

both in their early 20s and were on their way home at around four o

clock this morning. Police have described the sexual assaults that

took place on James Watt Street as despicable.

England and Chelsea football captain John Terry is to be charged

with racially abusing a fellow player. The 31-year-old is to be

prosecuted in the courts after being filmed during a match

appearing to shout an offensive slur at Anton Ferdinand in October.

He faces a fine of �2,500 if convicted.

Police have charged a man with assault after an alleged fare

dodger was removed from a train by a passenger. Video of the incident,

shot by another passenger on the Edinburgh to Perth service, has

attracted nearly two million hits on YouTube.

A former Daily Mirror financial reporter has told the Leveson

Inquiry into media ethics that phone hacking was regularly used at

the paper. James Hipwell, who was jailed in 2006 for an insider

trading scam, said it was very unlikely that Piers Morgan did not

know about the practice when he was editor.