ROSS TAIT FROM EDINBURGH AND KIRKCALDY JAILED AFTER THREATENING POLICE OFFICER'S SISTER

Ross Tait, a 24-year-old man with connections to Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy, has been sentenced to prison following a series of violent and threatening actions that culminated in a disturbing incident involving law enforcement. The events unfolded in East Lothian, specifically in Musselburgh, where Tait was detained for breaching a court-imposed bail condition that explicitly prohibited him from entering the Burgh Bar.

Earlier, in August of the previous year, Tait was involved in an altercation outside the same establishment, during which he assaulted a woman. The assault resulted in visible injuries, including bruising and a loosened tooth. Despite this, he was still under restrictions that barred him from returning to the bar. However, three months later, police officers observed him entering the premises, which led to his immediate arrest.

During the arrest, Tait’s behavior took a threatening turn. According to court reports, he told an officer, “I’m going to ruin you. I’m going to rape your sister – and your bird’s a slag.” These words, spoken in a moment of apparent hostility and defiance, underscored the severity of his conduct and the danger he posed.

At Haddington Sheriff Court, depute fiscal Brent Bissett detailed Tait’s violent history, including the August assault where he punched a woman, causing her injuries. Tait also resisted arrest violently and provided false information to police officers when questioned about breaching his curfew in Prestonpans. His actions demonstrated a pattern of aggressive behavior and disregard for the law.

Ross Tait, who works as a poultry supervisor and is a father, was ultimately sentenced to 14 months in prison for multiple offenses. His legal representative acknowledged that Tait accepted full responsibility for his actions and explained that his aggressive conduct was partly motivated by a desire to impress his peers.

It is noteworthy that Tait has a prior criminal history. He was previously acquitted in the high-profile 2012 murder case involving barman David McArdle outside a pub in Musselburgh. In that case, co-accused Ross Cameron pleaded guilty to culpable homicide and received a four-year sentence, while Tait was convicted solely of attacking a doorman with a wooden pole, for which he received a 14-month sentence.

Ross Tait’s criminal record and recent behavior highlight ongoing issues with violence and law enforcement compliance, raising concerns about public safety in the communities of Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, and East Lothian.