[email protected] ------ Twitter: @Bob_Smyth -----
I was a news reporter and features writer and a sub on The Sunday Post (sundaypost.com) for 20 years and before that a sub on the Courier (thecourier.co.uk) in Dundee.
I have a particular interest in crime and policing and have contributed to the Daily Record, Sunday Mail, Scottish Mail on Sunday, Scottish Daily Mail, Metro, Scottish Sun, Scottish Daily Express, Scottish Sunday Express, Daily Star Scotland, Daily Mirror, Sunday Post, Courier, Press & Journal, Scotsman, Sunday Herald and the Herald. I have highlighted the issue of potential miscarriages of justice in the controversial cases of Luke Mitchell, Michael Ross, Caroline Igoe, Sean Toal and Lockerbie.The story list below does not include all my contributions as several were unbylined to protect sources. Some also carry staff bylines. (Sorry, not in chronological order)
CHECK OUT MY BOOK, Crimestopper (ghosted memoir of a retired detective) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crimestopper-Fighting-Crime-Scotlands-Streets/dp/1845024966
Nominated - Scoop of the Year, Scottish Press Awards 2014
EXCLUSIVE TIP - A DEMENTIA-suffering rapist has been freed from jail just months into a five-year sentence. Pensioner Charles Murphy was jailed in August for horrific crimes carried out in the 1960s and 70s, before he succumbed to the disease. The 78-year-old was convicted of a catalogue of sex crimes and violence across Glasgow, including threatening to throw acid in a woman's face.
Contributor to documentary exploring the long shadow cast by the World's End murder case in Edinburgh.
EXCLUSIVE CONVICTED killer Luke Mitchell has hit out at "double standards" over the use of lie detector tests in the justice system Mitchell, serving life for the 2003 murder of his 14-year-old girlfriend Jodi Jones, passed a polygraph test in 2012 as part of his bid to be freed but was told by authorities it was not a reliable measure of the truth.
EXCLUSIVE Cigarettes could soon be produced in unpleasant colours, with health warnings emblazoned across the stick, under new proposals to make smoking unglamorous. Experts believe the white papers which traditionally encase tobacco have connotations of purity and cleanliness.
EXCLUSIVE TIP: Reconstruction from skull bears likeness of missing Scots sailor. A sailor who went missing during a disastrous polar expedition could be about to be identified - 170 years after he and his crew vanished. And Canadian experts are hoping Sunday Post readers can help piece together one of the world's oldest missing persons cases.
TV time travel hit Outlander could be going from a drama to a dram.
EXCLUSIVE: One of Scotland’s most distinguished families have expressed “surprise” that police were called after a tartan plaid linked to the Battle of Culloden was apparently lost from their castle.
EXCLUSIVE: Justice body cites lack of new evidence in gun crime. Miscarriage of justice watchdogs have rejected a plea from Caroline Igoe to investigate claims she was wrongly convicted of shooting dead her boyfriend in Edinburgh in 2009. However, it's believed Igoe will not give up her freedom fight and may submit a fresh application.
An audience of 500 was due to hear the physicist speak about his career but they were emailed and phoned yesterday by festival staff, who told them the event at Edinburgh's Queen's Hall was not going ahead.
TIP: Convicts should be trained to push wheelchairs safely to help cope with the growing number of elderly prisoners, according to new proposals. Lags should also learn how to help fellow inmates who are too frail to clean their own cells as well as delivering washing and food, according to a new report.
TIP: The tycoon behind one of Hollywood's hottest fashion brands is at the centre of a bizarre legal dispute over claims he berated staff in the shops that bear his name. Fraser Ross, from Aberdeen, has Kitson stores in California and in the Far East.
TIP: Illustrations by Scots serial killer Dennis Nilson have been used in two new artworks - including a picture of the murderer's own LIPS. Artist Paul Hartnett spent a decade corresponding with the murderer, who is serving life for killing at least 12 men and boys.
TIP: A shocked Scot has spoken of her lucky escape from a deadly tropical cyclone. Dozens of people are feared dead after Cyclone Pam tore through the Vanuatu islands in the South Pacific Ocean with winds of up to 155mph.
Former FBI expert Mark Farik fears World's End killer Angus Sinclair murdered more women.
EXCLUSIVE TIP: Jenny Hastings has spent years struggling with devastating mental illness Attempted to kill herself by eating peanuts as she has severe nut allergy Even tried electric shock treatment in a failed bid to beat her depression On the face of it, Jenny Hastings looks like she has everything - a celebrity husband, a comfortable lifestyle, two talented children, and the slender figure of a twenty-something, the result of her years training as a swimmer and triathlete.
EXCLUSIVE TIP
EXCLUSIVE TIP: Thai police investigating the brutal killings of two British holiday-makers are facing fresh criticism after crime scene photos were leaked online. The images appear to show the mutilated bodies of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge, both of whom were found dead on the island of Koh Tao earlier this month.
EXCLUSIVE: Michael Ross told by SCCRC his conviction is not a miscarriage of justice
EXCLUSIVE TIP: Superhacker Gary McKinnon has bounced back from his legal nightmare to set up a new IT business.
Woman grew apple tree in her living room in tribute to fiance killed in First World War
The 10 events held between 2004 and 2013 at Balado in Kinross-shire, which latterly attracted up to 85,000 per day, were hit by a total of more than 3600 incidents. These included three attempted murders, 10 sexual assaults, an abduction and more than 2000 drugs offences.
EXCLUSIVE TIP: Missing parrot Boab quotes from hit comedy Still Game
EXCLUSIVE: Police officers breached Luke Mitchell's human rights when they questioned him over the murder of his teenage girlfriend Jodi Jones, according to a report by Scotland's official justice watchdog.
A SCOTS criminologist has claimed that disgraced footballer Luis Suarez could be demonstrating a "classic criminological pattern" in his tendency to bite other players. Criminologist Professor David Wilson, a serial killer expert and regular on TV crime shows, said Suarez could be suffering from odaxelagnia - gaining pleasure from biting another person.
details of story not included to protect sources
EXCLUSIVE TIP: The mum of a Lockerbie bombing victim has slammed a top author after he appeared to mock the law chief who led the investigation into the atrocity. Best-selling Scots writer James Robertson has campaigned in the past to clear the name of the only man convicted of the terrorist attack, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.
EXCLUSIVE SPLASH: Michael Ross, who was found guilty of shooting a Bangladeshi waiter in a restaurant, declared: "I did not kill Shamsuddin Mahmood and had nothing to do with his murder." Ross, 35, who did not give evidence at his trial in 2008, has dramatically outlined his version of events in a letter from prison to supporters.
EXCLUSIVE (1st EDITION SPLASH) The mum of compensation row killer Kevan Thakrar has admitted his payout makes a mockery of the prison complaints system. Jean Thakrar, of Port Glasgow, said her son - who sparked a storm of protest after a judge awarded him £800 for damaged property - would have been happy with just an apology.
Nessie is back in new satellite pic from Google Earth.
A PROFESSIONAL sceptic has blown the most recent Nessie sighting out of the water by claiming it was nothing more than waves created by a boat. IT looked too good to be true - and it turns out it probably was.
A SCOT won a landmark court battle yesterday to be officially recognised as neither male nor female. Norrie May-Welby, born a boy, had sex-change op at 28 but now describes gender as 'spansexual'.
EXCLUSIVE A woman jailed for life for shooting dead her boyfriend is beginning a new bid for freedom using forensic evidence.
EXCLUSIVE A Scot who is the world's first officially genderless person is facing a fresh court battle - to keep the controversial status. Norrie May-Welby - originally from Paisley - is determined to fight a challenge to a previous court verdict giving the 52-year-old the right to have "sex not specified" on official birth certificate documentation.
SCOTS writer Mark Millar yesterday said he was baffled by superstar Jim Carrey’s rejection of his latest movie.
EXCLUSIVE: Retired top cop Roy Ramm slams investigation into murder of Jodi Jones on 10th anniversary of killing
Scots TV presenter unnerved by weird requests from fans - Scottish Sun
EXCLUSIVE: Jewellery store is "robbed" - by police. Owners claim £100,000 stock taken without proof of wrongdoing
EXCLUSIVE: Prison chiefs admit they have secretly dug up one murderer and lost the grave of another
Donald Trump withdraws $5 million lawsuit against comedian who claimed his Scots mother slept with an orangutan
EXCLUSIVE: Cops cleared of criminality by Operation Teal now face misconduct probe by force
Americans flock to Scotland on special tours laid on by Disney in tribute to Oscar-winning move Brave
Adorable, Goodluck, Divinefavour and Lolita..the unusual baby names registered in 2012
EXCLUSIVE: Story of Scots gran who solved murder could become film
Susan Boyle's first US TV ad whips up sales for Miracle Whip
Lockerbie bomber's deathbed confidant says Scots cops won't find anything hunting for clues in Libya
EXCLUSIVE TIP: A 40-year-old man has died after playing five-a-side football at a sports centre in Glasgow. Staff at the Firhill Complex battled to save him after he collapsed on the pitch, according to an eyewitness. Paramedics rushed to the centre near Garscube Road when the alarm was raised shortly after 8.30pm on Monday.
EXCLUSIVE: Prison chiefs are planning a clampdown on criminals taking lie detector tests behind bars. The Sunday Post has learned there will be a limit on the number of inmates allowed to sit the controversial polygraph examinations.
EXCLUSIVE: Widow tells of fears 20 years after death of cop husband. The widow of the last police officer to be stabbed to death in the line of duty in Scotland has revealed she would not like to see an armed police force.
The BBC planned to do a remake of The Sopranos based in Glasgow
The banned memoirs of Scots serial killer Dennis Nilsen are being offered for sale for hundreds of pounds.
EXCLUSIVE THE FBI has released its secret profile of the killer of schoolgirl Jodi Jones – but all the details are blanked out, adding to speculation that it did not match Luke Mitchell. Jodi's body was found in woods in Dalkeith, Midlothian, in June 2003, and her boyfriend Mitchell, now 25, was later convicted of the brutal slaying and jailed for at least 20 years. During the investigation, Lothian and Borders detectives flew out to consult experts at the National Center for the Analysis of...
My tip on a wacky Facebook photo makes a P3 lead...A DAREDEVIL braved gale-force winds to do a Superman pose for a photo yards from a 300ft cliff.
EXCLUSIVE: A family video is at the heart of a new bid to overturn the conviction of a former soldier found guilty of one of Scotland's most notorious murders. Black Watch veteran Michael Ross is serving a life sentence for shooting waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood, at an Indian restaurant, in Orkney, in 1994.
EXCLUSIVE A crackdown on internet paedophiles has led to the convictions of 135 people caught with sickening child abuse images. Operation Alba has sent perverts to prison for a combined term of over 160 years.
A JEWELLER who had £100,000 worth of stock seized by police has had the haul returned following a four-year battle. Officers swooped suspecting John Taylor, 46, was selling stolen loot at his Gorgie shop. But - after he was cleared of reset - officers failed to return his expensive stock back, driving him to the brink of despair.
"Spansexual" Norrie May-Welby, born in Paisley but now living in Oz, was given a birth certificate stating "sex not specified" - a ruling the New South Wales registrar wants overturned. A SCOTS "spansexual" faces a legal battle to keep a birth certificate that records her as neither male nor female.
EXCLUSIVE SPLASH: By Patricia Kane and Bob Smyth One of Britain's most notorious serial killers has had his self-serving and 'pornographic' autobiography published while he is in prison - in defiance of a government ban.
EXCLUSIVE SPLASH New forensic tests ordered by justice wathdogs probing possible wrongful conviction of Luke Mitchell
EXCLUSIVE: SCCRC investigators to quiz convicted killer behind bars
THE CIA wanted to assassinate Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi and his co-accused, Al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah, before their trial, a former Washington lobbyist has claimed.
EXCLUSIVE: Mother of convicted killer Luke Mitchell gives first in-depth interview
Scots schoolgirl shocked after mystery Facebook user poses as her online to contact teenage girls
Astonomers in Puerto Rico find galaxy that looks like Loch Ness Monster
EXCLUSIVE: Documentary on mental hospital by Scots Professor David Wilson
EXCLUSIVE tip-off: Phoney lairds meet for gathering in Scotland after buying titles
EXCLUSIVE: Producers of The Inbetweeners plan hard-hitting movie about the Lockerbie disaster -
EXCLUSIVE: Scots former Hollywood exec, who quit high life 10 years ago to care for kids, on brush with frightening illness
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's McSuperman! Man of Steel tribute character created in Scotland to fly onto big screen
Gerard Butler has 'black in his soul' and took lessons so he could dance like Michael Jackson
Celtic fan loses appeal against football banning order after claiming offensive slogans on top were free speech
The Australian producers of crime thriller Son of a Gun have sparked controversy by advertising for Aboriginal actors — to play convicts.
Former traffic warden fears someone will be killed as wardens scrapped and council fails to take on duties
Lie test evidence could be used in civil action over rape allegation against footballer
EXCLUSIVE: Scots boss of store to the stars wins legal fight to stop copycat
Anger as prison chiefs forced to apologise to cons over investigation into salty food an letter delivered to wrong cell
EXCLUSIVE: A Scottish retailer to the stars is delighted his store features in a new movie about a notorious gang of teenage robbers who ripped him off.
Long-running Operation Teal into Tayside Police officers has resulted in no criminal charges
EXCLUSIVE: Secret court hearings over mystery third man in Lockerbie bombing
Scots drugs cops were accused of attempting to pervert justice, misusing their powers and theft in a long-running probe.
Wee Man star Martin Compston has his Twitter hacked by diet pill ads
Donald Trump in fresh threat to tie up turbines plan in lengthy legal battle
EXCLUSIVE: An ambulance worker has been sacked and a special constable has quit over postings they made on Facebook
EXCLUSIVE: Whole world is 'keeking' thanks to Keek, Kim Kardashian's fave soc media video clip site named after Scots word
SPLASH: Luke Mitchell in European Court of Human Rights bid
SuBo launches own tartan - and Donny Osmond is first to wear it
Luke Mitchell's latest bid for freedom
EXCLUSIVE Policeman's widow Christine Fulton tells of 10 years helping other victims' relatives through her support group COPS
Megrahi's emergency blood transfusion was his second in recent weeks
US Lockerbie families calm Libya fears, confirming they don't want more compensation cash from the nation blamed for the bombing
ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Megrahi in hospital
Scot who is officially genderless hails council that wants to let people call themselves Mx instead of Mr, Mrs or Miss
Son waits to hear if woman who stabbed his wheelchair-bound mother to death will be convicted of murder or lesser charge
Scots comic book guru says Superman should wear his trunks on the outside
Best friend of murder victim sad that killing is not one of the five cold cases now being reviewed
Stratchlyde Police remove inappropriate tweet about crimes
Best pal of murder victim on decision not to review the case
Builders snapped a pesky traffic warden parked on double-yellow lines and made the pic into large signs to mock him
Murder not among top five being probed
EXCLUSIVE: Lie detector test could be used in Scots court for first time in bid for civil claim against alleged rapist
EXCLUSIVE: Luke Mitchell did not murder Jodi Jones, according to the results of a sensational lie detector test
EXCLUSIVE SPLASH: Video of Luke Mitchell passing lie detector test revealed
The unusual names given to babies in Scotland in 2012
Disgraced politician Tommy Sheridan has complained to the BBC's highest arbiter about a documentary
Ewan McGregor post pics of his bearded and tattooed tough-guy look
Killer Patrick Rae suffers heart attack and bids for move home to Ireland.
Donald Trump suing for five million dollars after insult to mother
page 33: Scots churches hit by hundreds of metal thefts, vandalism and property thefts.
Karen Gillan lands new TV job in US crime comedy
page 33: A killer who has been behind bars since 1977 is to have his appeal heard in May
EXCLUSIVE: Retired top cop Roy Ramm issues damning opinion on quality of police probe into brutal slaying of schoolgirl Jodi Jones
One of Scotland's most notorious murderers is to finally have his day in court
The mother of convicted killer Luke Mitchell has released a video of her passing a lie detector test in a bid to show she was telling the truth when she gave him an alibi.
EXCLUSIVE: Irish killer Patrick Rae suffers heart attack and wants move to prison in his home country.
EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: Newspaper dirty tricks inquiry reveals Rangers manager was target
Billy Connolly and Craig Ferguson admit boozy antics in past
EXCLUSIVE: Pilley trial brings painful memories for family of man whose body has never been found
Convicted killer Luke Mitchell wants a lie test to prove his innocence
EXCLUSIVE: Test shows Corinne Mitchell wasn't lying when she gave son alibi
Bake Off star James Morton so famous he's recruiting a showbiz agent
EXCLUSIVE: Fraser Ross is boss of top celebrity store Kitson
EXCLUSIVE: Scotland's most senior police officer has launched an unusual plea...
Man accused of drugs offence to see relevant information from report into alleged criminal behaviour by police
EXCLUSIVE: Top cop pledges more police on the beat if he becomes Scotland's first chief constable
Twins from Scotland taught schoolchildren killed in Newtown massacre
Fraser Ross runs top celeb store Kitson
EXCLUSIVE: A Billy Connolly fan has revealed her dad died laughing at the comedian
Cop union boss who suggested paying for 999 calls now asks if non-emergency calls should be free -
EXCLUSIVE: Peter Manuel linked to unsolved murder
Natalie Robb tells of acute morning sickness hell as Duchess of Cambridge struck down with it
EXCLUSIVE: Robert Greens could be a suspect in the murder
Top golf writer urges boycott of Donald Trump's Scottish course
Paul Daniels has abandoned Twitter after becoming a victim of cyberbullying
Gerard Butler's new film panned as one of the worst films of the year
Plans to bring Tommy Sheridan's story to the screen have been scrapped
SPLASH: Operation Teal will take two more months as fresh lines of inquiry investigated
EXCLUSIVE: A Scot is the first person in the world with a passport verifying they are not male or female - followed up by Sun and Star
Controversial games company Rockstar North is looking for game testers
EXCLUSIVE: Cash-strapped prison officers are moonlighting
EXCLUSIVE: Genderless Scot backs teenage schoolboy sent home from class for dressing as a girl
EXCLUSIVE: Luke Mitchell speaks out for the first time
Top judge turns to Sherlock Holmes to help crack baffling case
Aggir MacKenzie warned by Government over speaking about her MI6 job
A mum who nearly died from the horror ilness that has struck down Kate will appear at Holyrood.
Macca on the re-release of his album written on the Mull of Kintyre
MP George Galloway sets up an office in the Commons tea room
Rough Justice producer wants fresh probe into first case, a murder that led to a Scot being wrongly jailed
Tip-off EXCLUSIVE: Pat Nevin has won his battle to cancel a vile bogus Twitter account in his name.
Scots astronomer gazes deeper into history of universe than ever before
A dentist handed out Creme Eggs to kids as an Easter treat
EXCLUSIVE: Crown Office Cold Case Unit uncovers four new unsolved murders
Gerard Butler tells of his near-death experience filming a surfing movie
Killer Luke Mitchell will today launch a fresh bid for freedom.
Tip-off: Krankies star didn't eat for three days after revelations about her sex life
Luke Mitchell will launch a fresh bid for freedom today
Paul Daniels has denied being cranky with the Krankies
The Lockerbie bomber is set to heap fresh embarassment on the Scottish Government
The Lockerbie bomber's biographer has hit back at claims his book will raise "blood money"
Mitchell yesterday hailed campaigners battling for his freedom
Attack on Glasgow taxi driver caught on phone video (next day a Scottish footballer was alleged to be involved and went on to appear in court)
New Malta court probe into Lockerbie bombing
Legal fight over whisky fungus on homes
Forensic expert in bid for new technology to analyse child porn collections
Actor reveals he never visited town in his new book and used Google instead
Christine Fulton vows to help familes of murdered women PCs
Hundreds at community meeting in legal fight over whisky fungus
Dad spearheads legal fight against fungus on homes
Fragment of Stone of Destiny returned to its ancestral home
US Congresswoman proposes a law to encourage more investigation of the Lockerbie disaster.
Obsessed Maradona fan desperate for rare footage of his hero playing against Scotland
EXCLUSIVE: Winnie Gibb, disabled girl seen as a curse on her family, brought to Scotland 10 years ago by caring couple, thriving and starting university
EXCLUSIVE: Scots lawyer won terrorist Oman Khadr's move from Guantanamo
Great British Bake Off finalist James Morton joins Better Together campaign
Top crime author Val McDermid used Jimmy Savile as inspiration for paedophile character
Cops plan giant knees-up to mark end of force
Claire Forlani in pretentious ads for Dewar's
Megrahi's defence team wanted to use revolutionary test to find prints on key evidence
EXCLUSIVE: Jimmy Savile boasted he was so powerful he could control Buckingham Palace
EXCLUSIVE: Billy Connolly taught Scots words to American colleagues making Brave
Angie praises Ewan's performance in The Impossible
Scots inmates have twice as muche telly as those in England and Wales