Good evening and welcome to today's Daily Record headline briefing.
The rundown keeps you up to date with the latest news from Scotland and beyond.
Here is everything you need to know to keep up to date.
Scots dad recalls heart-wrenching moment doctors asked if they should save baby or mum during labour
A Scots dad has recalled the moment doctors asked him whether they should save the life of his baby son or fiancee when she went into premature labour at just 24 weeks. Dad-of-six Michael McConnell, from Falkirk, spoke of the terrifying moment a doctor at Wishaw General Hospital pulled him to one side and whispered: "If push comes to shove, who survives, mum or baby?"
Things had taken a dramatic turn when Michael's partner Stephanie Brown, 29, was giving birth to the couple's son Michael, known as Mickey, at 16 weeks early on November 8 last year. The 33-year-old dad said he felt like his heart stopped beating when he was faced with the unimaginable decision. Michael told the Daily Record: "There were complications during Steph's pregnancy and she began leaking amniotic fluid from 18 weeks.
"She went through a real horrific time towards the end, we didn’t think Mickey was going to make it. Steph was feeling really unwell as she had been trying to hold onto my boy for as long as she could to give him the best chance of survival. During doing so, the umbilical cord collapsed putting both her and my unborn boy in grave danger.
"When the doctor asked who I would save during her labour, I felt numb. My heart stopped, I thought I was going to leave that building alone. I’ve felt loss in the worst of ways before and I thought I’d have to feel it again. There’s no word to describe the fear I felt. I was in a very emotional, complex and dangerous predicament."
Brave Scots domestic abuse victim jumped out window in bra and leggings after monster ex throttled her
A brave domestic abuse survivor has told how she wished she could see her mum ‘just one last time’ as her partner throttled her during a vicious attack which left her fearing for her life. Emma Hockings was forced to jump out a window in her bra and leggings after brute Craig Corbett ripped her clothing off during the shocking assault at her home in Cronberry, near Cumnock, in Ayrshire.
The 31-year-old managed to break free from the drunken yob and ran to a nearby neighbour’s house where a ring doorbell camera captured her in floods of tears and holding her neck. Horrific pictures of her injuries show Emma with bruises across her throat and on her body which were inflicted during the sustained attack.
Corbett, 34, a prisoner at HMP Greenock, admitted assaulting Emma to her injury during the January 15 incident, which saw him repeatedly hit her on the head before strangling her. Emma, who had been in a relationship with Corbett for just 11 months, told how the couple had got into an argument after he had returned from work that fateful evening.
She left the house but fearing something bad was going to happen upon her return, she gave her mobile phone password to a friend in case anyone needed to access the device. Emma said: “When I went back to the house, as soon as I came through the front door, he started hitting me. He hit me about 16 or 17 times in the head and the face.
“I managed to crawl to the front step but he was dragging me back in. I was screaming for help. He pulled my jacket off me and I was still trying to get out. He then pulled my top off by dragging me in the door. I threw my phone outside because I thought if I could get out there, I could call the police and that there was evidence on it."
Police probing death of tragic teen who fell from Scots cliff wait to quiz her critically ill boyfriend
Police investigating the death of a teenager who fell 50ft from a cliff are waiting to quiz her boyfriend, who is critically ill in hospital. Alesha Wright died after the incident in Thurso, Caithness, on Monday night which also left her 26-year-old partner with serious injuries. An air ambulance and coastguard crews attended but the 18-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dominic Long, who was with her, is being treated in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. It is understood he is in a critical condition. Alesha’s death is being treated as “unexplained” but police sources said officers are hoping to speak to Dominic, who is understood to have suffered a broken shoulder and other injuries, as soon as possible. They aim to establish what caused the pair to fall from Victoria Walk, a beauty spot.
A police source said: “We want to speak to Mr Long to establish the circumstances leading up to the fall. We have been canvassing for witnesses in the area at the time and will be tracing anyone who may have seen anything relevant to our investigation.
"We know Alesha spoke to her mum just a few hours before and was her usual self, there was nothing in her manner to suggest anything of concern. The family quite rightly just want to know how this has happened and we are making every effort to ensure we can provide them with answers.”
Scots company director who volunteered at top private school caged for sick child abuse material
A company director who volunteered at a leading private school has been jailed after being caught with a sickening horde of child abuse material. David Rankine, who built-up a leading media firm, was given an extended three year sentence when he appeared in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court.
Rankine, 42, was well-known as a first aider who was often called in to offer treatment to young pupils at £14,000-a-year Dundee High School. Sheriff Euan Duthie told Rankine he had played a role in the abuse of children which had caused them physical and emotional damage.
He jailed Rankine for eight months, with a further 24-months post-prison extended sentence, and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade. Sheriff Duthie said: "Because of the gravity of the crime you committed a custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal. You were part of the process of child abuse. People like you are creating a demand for material. You can properly be said to contribute to the pain and fear of children who are physically abused."
Rankine, one of the driving forces behind award-winning MTC Media, was caught with photos and videos featuring boys as young as four being sexually assaulted by adults. Police descended on his Carnoustie home after a tip-off in early 2021 and seized a range of devices, including four laptops and two iPhones.
Dad who dumped partner for Ukrainian refugee hit with restraining order by ex
A man who ditched his family to start a new life with a Ukrainian refugee that they sponsored has been hit with a restraining order by his former partner. Antony Garnett, 29, is prohibited from contacting Lorna, 28, or being within 100 metres of their former family home.
The order has been placed following a court hearing in which Lorna, who is the mother of Tony's two young daughters, claimed that he had sent abusive messages to her. The former security guard ran off with Sofiia Karkadym, 22, just ten days after he and Lorna welcomed her into their home.
The couple are now making plans to start a family and Tony is pursuing a new career in rap music. The non-molestation restraining order, which Tony agreed to without admissions, prevents him from getting in touch with Lorna via phone, text message, email or social media, The Mirror reports.
He said: “If it helps her sleep at night then so be it. I know the truth. I’ve done nothing wrong. I didn’t turn up with a solicitor because I don’t have anything to defend. Sadly, this is turning into an episode of Jeremy Kyle.”
