Girl accused of escalator stunt in dock

A TEENAGER who allegedly injured a great-grandmother by hitting an escalator’s emergency stop button at Waverley Station is to stand trial.

Nicola Scougal, 18, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to a charge of culpable and reckless conduct.

Prosecution lawyers allege Scougal, of Hopefield Terrace, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, culpably and recklessly pushed the emergency stop button on an escalator at Waverley Bridge on December 10, 2009.

Her supposed actions are said to have caused the moving stairs to have stopped immediately and caused Violet Roberts, 64, to fall down to her injury.

Mrs Roberts, of Dunfermline, Fife, allegedly suffered two broken wrists and needed emergency surgery after the incident, which was captured on CCTV. Footage of the alleged attack was shown on BBC1’s Crimewatch UK programme in September 2011.

Defence solicitor Caroline Kwek told the court that her client was continuing her not guilty plea.

The case was continued to August 31.