Zimbabwe to Leith – a dangerous move

Published on Friday 12 September 2008 22:09

A MAN who fled Zimbabwe's Mugabe regime for Scotland was caught at customs with a stun gun – a gift from worried friends who thought Edinburgh was too rough.

Vernon White, 73, was ousted from his home in 2002 and decided to leave the country. He has been living in Scotland ever since, but earlier this year flew to South Africa for a holiday.

White, who has lived in one of the most volatile hotspots in Africa, told his friends about his new neighbourhood – the Leith area of Edinburgh.

His friends were so worried after hearing tales of a double stabbing that they clubbed together to buy him a leaving present – a stun gun.

White claimed they had packed the present into his suitcase and he had not checked to see what it was before travelling back to Scotland.

After his return flight touched down at Edinburgh Airport in February this year, revenue and customs officers interviewed him.

He admitted that he had some sort of device in his bag, but as his friends had packed it, he did not know what.

When they searched his baggage they found the two-and-a-half inch personal defence device and White was arrested.

Despite initially denying the charge, White, of Portland Street, admitted importing an illegal stun gun into the UK when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday.

Sheriff Fiona Reith fined him 300.

Stewart Blaik, chairman of Leith Central Community Council said the perception of Leith was "ridiculous".

"Any area can have its rough parts," he said. "It's a very outdated image of Leith which harks back to its days as a port. Nowadays, it is up and coming and, I would even say, sophisticated."