Pranksters paint Rangers fan pal's property in Celtic colours

Published on Tuesday 30 September 2008 09:54

FOR diehard Rangers fan David Devanna it must be the worst makeover imaginable.

He returned from a birthday weekend in Blackpool to find his Sighthill View home and garden painted in green and white stripes.

No stone was left unturned as David's lawn, hedge, wall, car, driveway and even his wheelie-bin got a new coat of paint.

And if that wasn't bad enough, the two vans he uses for his bouncy castle hire business were also decked out in the colours of Old Firm rivals Celtic.

A banner reading "Hoopy 25th birthday" was sprawled across his windows.

But it didn't take long for David to work out the culprits were the friends who bricked up his front door this time last year. The stunt, which took place over the weekend, is the latest in a line of birthday pranks played on each other by a group of friends, who are ex-pupils of Forrester High School.

David said: "I knew something was going to happen while I was away and I have just had to laugh it off because they had clearly gone to a lot of effort. Payback is sweet though and I have something planned."

One of the culprits of the Celtic prank, Gregor Todd, 23, fears there are now no limits to what will happen next.

Plant mechanic Gregor, who lives in Longstone, said: "Since we were at school together the pranks have been getting bigger and better. It's my birthday next and I am expecting something big. My plan is to keep a low profile until my birthday passes. I don't think the boys have a limit now. It's getting really scary but if you're good enough to do it, you should be good enough to take it.

"About four or five of us came up with the idea to paint David's property green and white because he is such a diehard Rangers fan. Even his mother was involved in this one, it looked awesome and I think it was a work of art.

"As we were painting, passers-by would stop and have a look and some would come over to ask what we were doing. As soon as we explained it was for a Rangers fan on his birthday they just laughed and moved on.

"People in the area knew what we were up to anyway."

Gregor's girlfriend, Holly Nicholson, 23, added: "When David came back he was gobsmacked but I think he has taken it in a light-hearted way. He is a prankster himself. We are all helping to clean up now. Gregor's birthday is next, though, and I have heard rumours of our house turning a Balamory colour."

One of the other culprits, 32-year-old former bus driver Paul Stokes, added: "I have spoken to David briefly, as he only came back on Sunday night, but you wouldn't be able to print what he said to me."

Last November David left half a car in Gregor's driveway at his previous home in Balerno – at the same time he was trying to sell it.

It was in retaliation for a prank Gregor masterminded to bricking up and cementing the doorway of David's house and wallpapering his front window with a huge birthday message.

SHAVING FOAM, CLING FILM, RABBIT'S BODY, FAKE BLOOD. .

November 2006 David Devanna 'decorates' Gregor Todd's car in shaving foam and wraps it in clingfilm.

September 2007 Gregor and an accomplice retaliate by bricking up and cementing David's front door, as well as filling his beloved Golf GTI with balloons and string and wrapping it in cellophane. The car is sprayed all over with foam and the body of a toy rabbit is attached to the bonnet and finally fake blood is scattered around.

November 2007 David dumps the rear half of a car on Gregor's driveway at the same time he is trying to sell his house.

September 2008 Gregor hits back again by painting Rangers-mad David's property in green and white stripes.