Craig Campbell was subjected to vile threats and harassment from John McWhinnie over the course of several years, after the latter claimed Campbell was ruining his business by order of “the Russian mafia“.

The 43-year-old initially met McWhinnie, 37, in a one-to-one web design class but their relationship quickly soured after Campbell pulled a harmless prank that McWhinnie took to heart.

Campbell, from Glasgow, was soon pestered with violent emails and messages from McWhinnie, who initially apologised but soon restarted, culminating in his eventual arrest in March this year.

Campbell, who is a search engine optimisation (SEO) specialist, initially held a personal class with McWhinnie, from Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, in July 2018 to advise him on web design and SEO.

Campbell then met McWhinnie again at one of his talks in September 2018, striking up a casual friendship after realising the pair got on very well.

However, after Campbell and a pal decided to prank McWhinnie with a spoof text message from Amazon, the friendship went south, with McWhinnie removing Campbell and others from social media.

It was after this that McWhinnie’s threats began, when in March 2019 he emailed the SEO businessman with a threat that his “throat was getting cut as well as the throat of [his] newborn son“.

Shaken, Campbell immediately reported the message to the police and distanced himself from McWhinnie for months until, in November 2021, McWhinnie asked for a call to “clear the air”.

The two men spoke over a Zoom call, in which McWhinnie explained that he has psychosis, before apologising to Campbell for telling people that he was a “Russian mafia leader”.

However, it was then in January 2023 that Campbell received a 17-minute phone call from McWhinnie, who reiterated that he would cut his throat for “harassing his business for four years”.

McWhinnie then went on to allege that Campbell was “high up in the Russian mafia food chain”, before claiming that he was “in a life-or-death situation” and intended to kill Campbell before killing himself.

McWhinnie then followed up these horrific threats with a further bizarre message the next month.

Campbell claims the rambling message read: “You better send a hitman instead of wee cryptic messages ya [sic] f***ing animal.

“Try and manipulate Peter all you want, that will be part of the chapter.

“If I don’t cut your throat literally (based on you driving me to suicide and me doing you first). I’ll make sure you bleed like a hog in front of that audience that you adore so much.

“You started this, you also kept it going, well wee s****y Johnny is gonna [sic] finish it.

“Off to bed before you dismissed me as a drunk, had a few cans but free for a chat all day tomorrow.

“You think the mentality I’ve built gets rocked that much [by] hangovers, the harassment I have endured has created a convict type.”

Following these messages, McWhinnie was then arrested by police in March this year, after they tracked him down in Edinburgh.

He was subsequently charged and let out on bail under the conditions that he must not approach or contact Campbell.

However, Campbell claims that as a result of this condition, McWhinnie was given both his office and home addresses so that he would know where he’s not allowed to go whilst on bail.

It was then on 27 June that McWhinnie allegedly repeatedly tried to call Campbell’s office, eventually getting through to his wife and asking: “Where’s Craig?”

After being told that Campbell wasn’t there, McWhinnie allegedly then told Campbell’s wife that he was going to come and find him and her, and asked if there were “any last messages” she would want to say to her husband.

Campbell then reported this to the police, who added the incident to his report which was then presented to the procurator fiscal.

McWhinnie appeared in court on 6 July where he pleaded guilty to two charges of sending – by means of a public electronic communications network – a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.

Prior to the court appearance, McWhinnie had wrote in a post to social media: “Craig Campbell has helped me ruin my life.

“He hacked my phone and is taking me to court in July! Weaponising the justice system, all part of his sick game.

“Go to therapy Craig, honestly, I’ve got to show up in court as the accused vs this weak, loudmouth bully who ‘wants the best for Glasgow SEO’.

“Ever since I arrived, he mocked me and used his power to make sure his status would not be challenged.

“The slightest threat sent to his fragile ego (and that’s coming from me!), his spider senses were tingling.”

Speaking today Craig Campbell said: “It all started in July 2018, the guy came to me for a one-day, one-to-one training session for digital marketing as he wanted to start his own business building and selling websites to companies.

“He enjoyed it and got quite a lot from it and we actually got on really well. He had just left his job at the Yellow Pages where he sold websites to clients.

“A few months later, I did a talk in Glasgow about SEO.

“As a joke me and a friend send him a text message through something called a text message spoof software (SMS Spoof) – this is now illegal but wasn’t at the time.

“All you need is the person’s mobile number and you can pretend to text them posing as any person or company in the world.

“We text him a message pretending to be from Amazon that said something like: ‘We’ve delivered your dildo to your back door but the box has got wet so the product is waiting for you with just the packaging.’

“This really freaked him out and we apologised for this and he removed me and several friends from his Facebook.

“After he appeared at several talks that I was giving I hadn’t heard from him since.

“Then in November 2021 he text me saying that he wanted to clear the air and said that he wanted to give me a quick call.

“In that call he told me that he had felt really guilty and that he needed to apologise to me as he had been telling people that I was a psychopath and a narcissist.

“He said: ‘I suffer from psychosis and I hadn’t been taking my tablets, I thought you were part of the Russian mafia’.

“The guy had been targeted by someone as his website had been hacked as well as some of his details, I think the incident with the text joke made him think that I was behind it.

“He’s been terrorised for four years and he thought I was behind it.

“I didn’t really think anything of it, I just thought that guy was a f***ing nutcase if I’m honest.”

Campbell then revealed that he was told McWhinnie moved to Tenerife with a woman he met online, who he then allegedly believed was a “Russian spy” sent by Campbell.

He said: “A mutual friend told me that he moved to Tenerife and hooked up with a girl on Tinder, and after a couple of months moved in with her.

“Apparently he locked her out of the house one night because he thought she was a Russian spy sent by me.

“However, I then get another call from him in January.

“He calmly said: ‘Hi Craig how are you doing? I don’t want to escalate things further but I’m going to cut your throat, this is life or death for me, you know what you’ve done.'”

Campbell also claims that McWhinnie even said he would commit suicide.

McWhinnie allegedly added: “Craig I don’t know if you’re part of this network but I know you’re high up the food chain and you’ve sent people to my house to kick [my] head in.”

Campbell explained: “He threatened to cut my sons’ throat when he was born, he also sent a message saying ‘If you come to Glasgow (Greenock) I’ll cut you and your son’s throats’.

“At the time my son was about 6-8 weeks old.

“I rang the police and they took a statement, after that he was arrested and was let out on bail under the conditions that he had nothing to do with me.

“The police then handed him two addresses, one was my office address which he already knew, but the other was my home address which he didn’t know about and was told to stay away from those two places.

“Police Scotland handed someone threatening me, my home address which he never, ever had which was really bizarre.”

Campbell continued: “After the initial threats were made in January 2023, the police passed this around and literally nothing for the first four weeks, until his second threat came via text.

“Their response to me was ‘until actually does something we can’t do anything’.

“I had to go via a local councillor to get the police to take this seriously, which is when the case was taken over by an officer in Helen Street, Glasgow who has been super ever since.

“But the system was very slow to respond, and also the handing out of my home address to some stalker/psycho is a problem.

“I also did raise this with my local councillor who said this was standard practise and he had the local police chief call me to explain how that works.

“He somehow got hold of my home phone number and talked to my wife where he threatened me via her which breached his bail conditions – my family are scared; I was abroad in Spain at the time giving a talk.

“I’m always looking over my shoulder, the office is always shut, I even told staff not to come in for two weeks in case he shows up.

“Even coming into my house you’re on edge that he’ll jump out at you, he’s more than capable, it’s in his locker to do something.

“The police have urgent response markers on my office and house, it’s horrible and a terrifying experience.

“The crazy thing is, I used to give this guy customers, I’ve even been told by mutual clients that he said that I was a great guy, yet five minutes later I get a text from him saying that he’s going to cut my throat.

“I believe he’s claiming all this because he’s off the medication, I know he moved from Greenock to Edinburgh and none of his family have anything to do with him.

“He pleaded guilty last month – I hope the guy gets the help he needs, but also get put behind bars because its not acceptable to threaten someone’s family.”

Campbell concluded: “The guys an oddball, he’s clearly off his f***ing rocker, he claimed that I had weaponised the justice system as I’m a hacker in the Russian mafia.

“I’d be relieved but I have the fear that he will just get community service and a fine and that my family will all suffer from this all over again.

“I have only ever met this guy on a handful of times, I have only ever given him the best advice to my knowledge.

“So why he would think that I was out to get him I will never understand, the only thing I can think it can be is jealousy.”

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Tracy McAlpine has more than two decades of experience and has spent the last 10 years specialising in newbuild transactions, working closely with national housebuilders.

Based in Glasgow, she will now lead a team supporting clients with the purchase of newbuild homes across Scotland, offering tailored support and guidance throughout the process.

“It is great to be joining a forward-thinking firm which supports legal professionals on different career paths – much like the one I have taken myself,” said Tracy.

“Given the diverse range of legal services offered by Gilson Gray, I now have the opportunity to engage clients for life, which is important to me,” she added.

Prior to joining the business, Tracy was newbuild director at MOV8 Real Estate and has previously held roles at McVey and Murricane and other Scottish legal firms. 

Debbie McCathie, partner and head of residential conveyancing at Gilson Gray, said: “Bringing Tracy in to lead our newbuild team will boost our conveyancing offering for existing and future clients.

“With Tracy’s expertise and commitment to client service, having her lead a specialist team will allow us to focus even more on unlocking new opportunities, both in Scotland and England.”

Last month, Gilson Gray named two new partners in its growing residential property department, which now has around 150 property professionals across offices in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, East Lothian and Lincoln.

Tracy McAlpine added: “I’m looking forward to being part of the next chapter of Gilson Gray’s growth.”

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Aodhán Benson was subject to a violent homophobic attack in July 2021 following his graduation as a newly qualified teacher from Hope University in Liverpool, leaving him beaten and traumatised.

This incident marked the last straw for the 24-year-old, who opted to move away from the UK after being offered a job as a modern foreign languages teacher at a school in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Despite the UAE’s stance on homosexuality – criminalised by both civil law and Sharia law – Aodhán took the plunge with the intention of hiding his sexuality from pupils and peers.

Whilst Aodhán initially bonded with many of his students and colleagues, he was later informed by his boss that secret WhatsApp chats had been set up by parents to discuss reporting him.

The teacher added that this was when it became clear that someone had Googled his name – an alleged offence in Dubai – and articles of his assault had surfaced, revealing that he was gay.

Aodhán shared how many pupils grew sympathetic for his cause – with one student even crying that his teacher would go to Hell for his sexuality.

He was then informed by the school that he would have to be let go if parents reported him to the education board (KHDA).

Aodhán has since opted to move back to Belfast, returning last month to share his experience of living in the UAE and attempting to be “respectful” of their laws against the LGBTQ+ community.

Speaking to Aodhán today, he said: “So, I moved in 2021 – I was unsure about going at first because of the things I’d heard, to be honest.

“I didn’t even know Dubai was a city within a country called UAE I thought Dubai was the country.

“It was never on my radar to move there but I was approached on LinkedIn and it sparked an intrigue so I started looking for jobs.

“I interviewed and was offered one but was going to decline as I still wasn’t sure if it was a wise decision.

“I was out for my graduation in Liverpool and was beaten up in a homophobic attack and I just needed to get away from Liverpool – I had no other job offers and I just thought it would be a chance to travel the world.

“Plus, I had some other gay friends who had taught there too and they told me it’s absolutely fine to live in as long as you follow the rules, which I was happy to do.

“I also went because I knew absolutely nothing about Islam or Muslims.

“Belfast isn’t exactly very diverse, so I thought it would be a good way to learn a bit more about something I didn’t know a lot about.

“So, I ended up moving and had an amazing time. It got me away from the bad environment I’d been in when I was in Liverpool as well as that attack being on the news and things.

“It felt like a fresh start, I was only ever going to be called by my first name, I never thought anything would come up and I really never assumed people would Google me.

“It’s a country that really respects privacy and it’s actually a crime to Google someone without consent so I never assumed that anyone would find the article.

“Basically, my school changed the policy and I’d be called Mr Benson so my full name was out and students Googled me and found the articles.

“It was then spread all around school and I was told by my boss that parents had been spreading it in WhatsApp group chats, debating if I was the type of person they wanted their kids around and debating whether to report me to the KHDA.

“My school tried to help but I was just told that ultimately there wasn’t much they could do if the KHDA got involved and I’d have to leave if it got that bad.

“I just got so panicked because the more they spoke the longer it was ‘relevant’ and I just got so anxious and dreaded going to work in case I got fired.

“I felt so paranoid by the end, even when I knew the end was near.

“I moved back at the beginning of July at the end of my two-year contract.

“Sadly, due to financial constraints included in my contract I couldn’t afford to leave sooner.

“I knew that I wasn’t going to continue on or even try and find another job in another school as I knew the story would always be online.

“I loved the job for the most part but I decided to leave teaching because I think in general there’s a shift in opinion towards teachers.

“It’s not as respected as it once was and even here in UK, I don’t know, but the comments and media you see about gay people being groomers – as stupid as it is – is just so disheartening.

“So being a teacher and listening to it is just so frustrating and I don’t want that stress.”

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The newly appointed partners are Louise Chambers, Stephen Farrell, Karen Manning and Liam Young.

They take the total number of partners at Burness Paull to 89 and are among 71 promotions effective today across the firm’s offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.

The latest round of promotions includes nine directors, 13 senior associates, 18 associates and 17 senior solicitors.

A total of 20 newly qualified solicitors will also remain with Burness Paull following the completion of their two-year traineeship, and the firm will welcome 22 new trainees from 4 September.

Louise Chambers, a real estate lawyer who trained with Burness Paull, focuses on residential and commercial development and the telecommunications sector.

Stephen Farrell is dual qualified in Scotland and England & Wales, and acts on a wide range of property issues and regularly provides dispute and regulatory advice in the sports sector.

Karen Manning, a construction law specialist, is regularly involved in a range of advisory work, particularly for the education, housing, office, retail and leisure sectors. She also provides support to the firm on commercial construction issues.

Liam Young, who also trained with the firm, is experienced in acting for employers, trustees and providers on pensions issues.

Peter Lawson, chair at Burness Paull, said: “The promotion of Louise, Stephen, Karen and Liam to partner recognises the specialist expertise they have honed in their respective areas over a number of years, and the valuable contribution they are making to clients, their teams and the wider firm.

“We are committed to investing in our people at all levels, blending the growth of homegrown talent with our lateral hiring programme that has brought in exceptional individuals to strengthen and diversify key practice areas.

“This is key to ensuring our clients receive the best possible advice and delivering on our ambitious growth strategy.”

Burness Paull is an independent commercial law firm that works with organisations across the UK and internationally and employs more than 650 people.

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Lawyers at Lindsays expect Companies House to begin action against those found in breach of their obligation to be named on the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE).

The register, aimed at preventing criminals from using UK property and land to launder money, came into force in August last year.

It was introduced as part of the UK Government’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and requires overseas entities who want to buy, sell or transfer property or land in the UK to register with Companies House.

Through this, they will declare who their beneficial owners or managing officers are.

The rules also apply to those who are mortgaging a property or granting a long lease.

Secondary legislation introduced last month has created powers to impose financial penalties for offences related to the ROE.

Official data shows that, of the 1,578 overseas entities which have bought Scottish property since December 2014, only 27% have registered in the ROE.

An overseas entity is not just a company, it can be a trust of partnership which has a legal personality under a foreign jurisdiction.

Entities which fail to register can face criminal and civil sanctions and will be unable to transact with their land due to the restrictions placed over it.

Companies House has said it is assessing cases for enforcement action, working in partnership with law enforcement bodies.

The financial penalties came into force on June 21.

They can be imposed if Companies House is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the person/s involved have engaged in conduct amounting to an offence under the law passed last year.

Louise Norris, a Partner in the Commercial Property team at Lindsays, said: “The introduction of this secondary legislation is a clear signal that officials at Companies House are preparing to investigate alleged breaches and take action, where appropriate.

“There is no cap on the level of fines which may be imposed for the offence of failing to register, but the Secretary of State for Business and Trade has indicated that the starting point for fines will depend on the estimated value of a property.

“There are three bands, starting at £10k, then £20k and £50k respectively.

“Where the overseas entity owns more than one property, a fine will be charged to each property in its portfolio.

“With interest on unpaid penalties accruing at 8%, sizable penalties will quickly rack up.”

Ms Norris added: “This latest step is a timely reminder for property and landowners to ensure they have done all that they are legally required to. Any oversights could prove costly.”

Law Society of Scotland rules mean that Lindsays is unable to provide verification of application services for the ROE, but its lawyers can signpost clients to providers.

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Benjamin Semple was convicted of several offences dating between July 2021 and January 2022, which were highlighted during his employment at Lancefield Care Home in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.

The disgraced care assistant was found to have been convicted of three offences in January 2022 at Paisley Sheriff Court, and a further three offences in August of that year at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Semple’s case at Paisley Sheriff Court found him convicted of breaking his bail conditions – which saw him ordered not to contact or approach an unnamed woman – to launch a tirade of abuse at her.

Semple, from Johnstone, visited the anonymous woman, unleashing a barrage of abuse and racial remarks, before threatening her with violence.

Semple then brandished a knife, cutting himself with it and smearing his blood on the walls before going on to ransack the address and struggling with police officers who arrived at the scene.

Semple was later convicted at Glasgow Sheriff Court of approaching the woman in July 2021 and assaulting her by seizing her by the throat, throwing a bottle at her and kicking her.

He later approached a taxi driver and repeatedly asked him to run him over, before slamming his head against the door of the taxi and kicking its wing mirror off.

Despite the six convictions, Semple further failed to notify care watchdog the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) of these, leading to a hearing to consider his fitness to practise.

The SSSC’s full report reads “You have been convicted of the assault of [information redacted] on multiple occasions and of wilfully and recklessly damaging property and this was aggravated by the fact that you breached bail conditions.

“Your convictions show a disregard for the law and falls far below the standard of conduct expected of a person registered with the SSSC.

“Your convictions have the potential to adversely affect the public’s trust and confidence in the profession.

“Your behaviour was violent and was not an isolated incident.

“It placed AA and BB at risk of physical and emotional harm and is incompatible with professional registration and violates fundamental values of the social services profession.

“This is not behaviour that would be expected from a person registered with the SSSC and risks bringing into disrepute the social services profession.

“You failed to declare the criminal proceedings to the SSSC. By taking steps to conceal your wrongdoing, we consider this to be highly concerning.

“Your behaviour is serious, and the risk of repetition remains high. Your behaviour was not isolated and demonstrated a pattern of behaviour.”

The panel agreed that Semple showed little remorse for his actions.

They stated: “You failed to recognise the consequences of your behaviour and the direct
harm your behaviour was likely to have on the individuals involved

“Your behaviour was serious and violent and demonstrated a loss of self-control.

“Your behaviour is serious, and the risk of repetition remains high. Your behaviour was not isolated and demonstrated a pattern of behaviour.”

The panel concluded that a removal was the most appropriate sanction, stating: “You acted in a violent manner resulting in a conviction.

“A condition would not be appropriate because the nature of the behaviour is indicative of attitudinal and values issues.

“There are no conditions that would address this behaviour and protect the public. Consequently, this is not an appropriate sanction.

“A warning plus conditions would not be appropriate due to the reasons outlined above.

“A suspension order would not be appropriate as your behaviour and the impairment of your fitness to practice is fundamentally incompatible with continuing registration.

“The behaviour is serious, and we have concerns about your underlying values, a suspension would not be able to address these concerns.

“Furthermore, allowing you to remain on the register albeit suspended would seriously undermine the integrity of the register and the public’s willingness to place trust and confidence in the profession.

“A suspension order would not be sufficient to adequately address the public interest concerns in this case.

“The SSSC considers a removal order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.”

A spokesperson for Lancefield Care Home said today: “[Benjamin Semple] no longer works here and hasn’t done for over a year.

“He no longer has any connection with Lancefield Care Home.”

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The company has opted for the Lucent Building, becoming the first tenants of the £35m office space, which is being developed by Orion Capital Managers, a European real estate private equity firm.

A 15-year lease has been agreed which will see Pinsent Masons’ 300-strong Glasgow operation move to the ESG Grade A development at 50 Bothwell Street in 2024.

Pinsent Masons believes that this move represents their commitment to Scotland’s global business community.

In 2022, the business moved their Edinburgh branch into the new 25,000 sq ft office in the Capital Square development.

At Lucent, Pinsent Masons will occupy part of the 4th floor and the entire fifth and sixth floors, totalling 27,561 sq ft.

The fifth floor features extensive private external terraces, while the sixth floor offers a newly created rooftop reception and meeting space for clients, a spacious south-facing social space with a meeting terrace for staff and further private terraces. 

The Lucent building was selected by Pinsent Masons due to its strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) qualities and its adaptability to post-Covid work environments.

The building has been vacant since 2017 and was purchased by Orion in 2021 who redeveloped the building to enhance its capabilities to facilitate smart-enabled offices in Glasgow.

Located on the corner of Bothwell Street and Wellington Street, the redevelopment has almost 80% less embodied carbon than a new build office development and has integrated smart technology for occupier comfort and engagement.

Lucent’s reimagined design, executed by Mosaic Architects, preserves the original sandstone façade.

Lucent also houses a range of leisure facilities, including a stretch and fitness studio and a contemplation suite as well as dedicated dressing rooms, 95 cycle storage spaces, showers, lockers, a drying room and a bike repair station.

According to data from Savills, as of Q1 2023, the total Grade A office supply in Glasgow was about 425,000 sq ft of which only approx 82,000 sq ft is in a prime location.

Orion Capital Managers is currently working on a number of redevelopment projects of offices internationally including Panorama St Paul’s in London, Park West in Milan and Oriente Green Campus in Lisbon.

Pinsent Masons Partner and Head of Glasgow, Barry McCaig, said: “Lucent is a bold choice for Pinsent Masons.

“The inspired transformation of this stunning building on Bothwell Street times perfectly with our current lease expiry, which meant we were able to act fast to secure the top two and a half floors of prime real estate in Glasgow’s business district.

“Not only does Lucent have great kerb appeal, but the building delivers against our environmental objectives and will provide exceptional amenities that will help us attract and retain the best people and lay the foundations for the next generation of legal and professional services talent.

“Post-Covid, we all recognise that weekly working patterns have changed and staff have a wish-list and requirements of the office environment.

“Our vision for Lucent will exceed expectations and ensure Pinsent Masons remains an attractive proposition for current and future employees, wherever they are on the career path.”

Richard Low, Orion, Asset Management Director said: “We are delighted to welcome Pinsent Masons as our first occupier at Lucent.

“When we bought this building, we wanted to create a working environment which would encourage people to come into the office and make use of the amenities on site.

“We believe we will achieve that with Lucent and have created an environment that caters for companies of the future as well as contributing to the wider regeneration of Glasgow city centre.”

Angela Higgins of Resonance Capital, who are providing development management and marketing services, said: “We are pleased to announce this first letting to Pinsent Masons, where Orion has created Lucent around people, their wellbeing needs and the changing needs of the workplace that will also embrace the needs of communities in Glasgow.

“Access to external space, the natural energy of a light filled atrium and beautiful terraces are major design features of the building while a zero carbon roadmap draws on the themes that attract businesses and pull communities together to revitalise this key area of Glasgow‘s business core.”

The leasing deal was facilitated by Ryden and Knight Frank acting on behalf of Orion, and CBRE representing Pinsent Masons.

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Leading financial services recruiter Core-Asset Consulting has revealed the current surge in demand is presenting major opportunities for individuals to make their mark in a once overlooked job market – in-house legal roles.

The £26m Edinburgh-based recruitment firm highlighted that due to misconceptions about in-house roles, legal practitioners following a traditional private firm pathway risk missing out on excellent development opportunities and a healthier work-life balance.

Kim Bower, Business Manager in the Legal team at Core-Asset Consulting said: “In-house legal roles have seen a surge in demand, the current trend sees a range of firms opting to cut the costs on outsourcing and focus on bringing in talent to work alongside teams.

“However, there is still a huge industry lean towards practitioner – notably more junior lawyers – wanting to stay or go into private practice and cast aside the thought of working in-house due to a misconceived idea of poor development.

“This is important to all levels, but more notably to junior lawyers who could be making their mark in a less traditional legal pathway.

“A key motivator for those who choose to work in-house is the work life balance it offers; this is something private practice really struggles to offer to lawyers.”

The legal sector is one of the industries analysed in Core-Asset’s eighth Annual Salary Guide, “Industry Trends and Salary Guide” which offers a comprehensive analysis of salary levels and significant advancements within Scotland’s crucial financial services, accountancy, fintech and legal sectors.

Kim added: “Ultimately, deciding on working in-house or in private practice comes down to personal preference but we rarely, if ever, see disappointed candidates once they’ve made the big switch.

“In-house presents a fantastic opportunity for development as budding lawyers are able to really carve their niche, while building a more intimate relationship with their employer and get exposure across a breadth of clients – compared to being siloed into one specialism in private practice.

“Speaking from my own experience of seeing people who have made this transition, it is one that has been of great benefit to their lives and career.”

As well as providing insights into key trends and developments within the legal sector, Core-Asset Consulting’s Salary Guide assesses market sentiment and activity, while shedding light on the prevailing themes influencing the financial services landscape across the country.

Core-Asset Consulting, established in 2005, is the leading recruitment and headhunting agency in Scotland, specialising in financial and professional services.

Initially renowned for its expertise in the asset management sector, Core-Asset Consulting has expanded its reach into the broader financial services market.

The firm boasts dedicated teams in accounting, investment operations, and finance, and now is making significant inroads into Scotland’s thriving legal sector.

It was founded by Betsy Williamson, who drew upon her extensive experience with large corporate recruiters to create a more sector-focused business with a strong emphasis on infrastructure and training.

The Industry Trends and Salary Guide is 63 pages of market analysis, salary data and insights from consultants, clients and candidates. To register to receive a copy, please visit: https://bit.ly/Salary-Guide-2023.

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Morag Smith, 44, was driving home from line dancing in 2018 with partner Evalyn Collie and two friends, Ted Reid and Audrey Appleby when her Nissan X-Trail was struck head-on by tourist Alfredo Ciociola.

The Italian’s rented Fiat minibus veered into the wrong side of the A96 near Keith, Moray, causing a crash that killed five others, including Evalyn.

Morag from Aberchirder near Huntly, Aberdeenshire suffered multiple open fractures all over her body while all three passengers died.

Ciociola’s wife Concetta was seriously injured and his four-year-old son Lorenzo died, but his second son Frederico survived.

Also in the minibus was friend Francesco Patane who was injured, and his wife Frances Saliba, who died.

The Italian was jailed for three years after being convicted of careless driving but due to time served on remand and an extradition deal he has now returned to Italy.

Ciociola was originally charged with dangerous driving but was convicted of causing the deaths by driving carelessly in November 2022 following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

A jury convicted him of the lower charge after ruling he failed to pay proper attention and drove into the opposing carriageway.

He was jailed the following month at the High Court in Livingston.

The crash left Morag with multiple open fractures on both arms; lacerations to her left leg; a snapped right knee cap; multiple spine disc fractures and an abdominal tear that needed 11 hours of emergency surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).

Morag’s injuries forced her to give up her job as a lead stewardess on the Stena Spey drilling rig in the North Sea where she oversaw accommodation for offshore workers

However, she is able to continue her way of life after Digby Brown Solicitors helped recover lost earnings before the criminal trial.

Morag said: “In the last five years I’ve stayed quiet and trusted the justice system to deliver – but it hasn’t.

“In early June I got an FYI letter from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) about Ciociola’s secret extradition”

“That’s what made me feel like I have to speak up as the SPS didn’t make this deal, the Crown did, so the Crown should have to justify it.

“When does the criminal system consider what’s fair to survivors and bereaved families rather than just debate what’s to be done with guilty people?

“Every victim deserves to know they matter and the fairest way to do that is ensure the person responsible is sentenced fairly – the crash happened here so Ciociola should serve time here.

“What is to stop Italian authorities giving Ciociola an early release because he’s on home soil?”

“Will Scottish officials actually go there and check he’s locked up until November 7 when I’ve been told he’s to be released?

“I know Ciociola suffered his own loss but he’s responsible for five deaths and it’s not much to expect him to spend time in a Scottish cell before getting to see his loved ones – because I’ll never again get to see mine.”

After the surgery it fell to Morag’s sister Laura Kewley to deliver the heartbreaking news that she was the sole survivor from her car, only moments later seeing Ciociola laughing in the ward.

The 37-year-old stable worker recalled: “Morag had been in hospital since early Friday morning but ARI staff told me to say nothing until after the surgery so it wasn’t until the Saturday I could tell her.

“There was just tears and disbelief – here was Morag, completely unable to move, wrapped in bandages and hooked up to machines, and I had to tell her everyone had died. It was hellish.

“After surgery Morag was moved from high dependency to orthopaedics and that’s when I saw him [Ciociola] come out the elevator in a wheelchair, with nothing but a cut on his leg, laughing with other people like nothing had happened.

“It boiled my blood. And I knew it was him because the police told us Italian tourists were involved and he was the only other Italian person around.”

Morag added: “Hearing everyone was gone didn’t sink in straight away as I was still in shock and on morphine but later that night it really hit me.

“Evalyn was my whole world. She died three days away from our eight-year anniversary. Ted was like a father to me as well.”

Laura said the physical and emotional blows left Morag in a depressive state as she was crying all day and not eating or drinking as she dealt with shock, pain and grief all at once.

This worsened when police cautioned Morag at her bedside.

Laura added: “The ward called us to say police arrived so I went to ARI as fast as I could and found Morag in an even worse state

“She was just told her partner and friends had died and now she thought the caution meant she was somehow responsible which was not true as the trial proved.

“Yet Ciociola was never cuffed and allowed to roam the hospital. I complained to 101 and within 10 minutes an officer called me and apologised.”

But Morag admits the actions of the jury still weighs on her mind.

She said: “I’m still in the home I created with Evalyn and everything around me reminds me of her so I find myself living for Evalyn now”

“She always wanted a rockery in the garden so I’ve now put one in and that’s like a special memorial to her.

“Now some time has passed I do have a massive feeling disbelief when I think about the jury reducing his charge to careless driving”

“I think they got this so wrong and I think the judge was even shocked about it as I recall him mentioning during sentencing about what he was now “required to do” given the jury’s decision.

“That crash inflicted physical and emotional pain like nothing else I’ve ever felt and now it just feels like all authorities have stopped caring about victims and the effects of their decisions.”

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Jonathan Semako was found to have committed a string of sexual and verbal harassment whilst employed at Cairdean House, Edinburgh between August 2020 and May 2021.

Semako, who was a team leader under Care UK, when the incidents occurred, was found guilty of acting in a “sexually motivated” manner after touching a colleague’s thigh whilst driving her home in 2020.

Semako also told the same colleague “I’ll bite you”, whilst in 2021, Semako committed a further series of assaults, including fondling a second colleague’s breasts whilst asking her “What can I do for you?”.

Semako’s actions led to a hearing of care watchdog the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) to consider his fitness to practise.

The SSSC‘s full report reads: “The allegations against you are that while employed as a care assistant by Care UK Limited at Cairdean House in Edinburgh, and during the course of that employment, you did:

“On or around 29 March 2021, come up behind your colleague AA and place your hands on her breasts.

“In relation to your colleague DD, in or around August 2020, while driving DD home, touch DD’s thigh.

“In or around September 2020, say to DD “I’ll bite you” or words to that effect.

“In or around September 2020, say to DD ‘I won’t touch you. You don’t have to worry about me touching you because (Information redacted)’ or words to that effect.

“In or around December 2020, say to DD ‘I always wanted my blood lined with an (Information redacted)’ or words to that effect.

The panel agreed that Semako was guilty of the allegations and that his fitness to practice was impaired.

They stated: “The panel decided that your conduct found proved amounted to a course of sexually motivated conduct involving female colleagues and causing them emotional harm.

“The panel decided that your conduct caused emotional harm to colleagues AA and DD and could have resulted in a reduction of care for vulnerable service users.

“The panel decided that your conduct was an abuse of the trust placed in you by your employees and junior work colleagues.

“It has concluded that the allegations found proved were extremely serious and involved sexually motivated conduct against two junior female colleagues.”

Semako was found to have shown no remorse and denied all allegations.

The panel stated: “Further, you continue to deny the allegations, you have not demonstrated any insight into the seriousness of your actions and their consequences or expressed any regret or remorse or demonstrated any remediation.

“There was no evidence of any insight or understanding on your part and you continue to deny any wrongdoing.”

“The panel finds that your fitness to practise is currently impaired by reason of misconduct.

“The panel considered a warning alone was not appropriate. There were public protection risks, and the public interest also required a more substantial sanction to be imposed.

“ThepPanel has concluded your sexually motivated conduct involved a serious breach of the trust of your employers and junior colleagues.

“These breaches were serious and fell far below the standards to be expected of a social service worker.

“The panel decided that removal was an appropriate and proportionate outcome and it therefore decided to impose a removal order, removing your name from the register.”

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