SCOTT COLVILLE AND DAVID MCCALLUM FROM AYR CONVICTED OF EXTORTION AND THREATS

In a significant case that has sent shockwaves through the community, two men, Scott Colville and David McCallum, both residents of Ayr, faced justice after a series of heinous criminal acts aimed at two separate victims. The crimes, which spanned over a period starting in July 2019, involved threats of violence, intimidation, and attempts at extortion that deeply disturbed the victims and the local community alike.

According to court records, Colville, aged 43, and McCallum, aged 39, engaged in a campaign of terror against a man from Fife. Their threats included horrifying claims that they would abduct the man's children and sexually assault his wife. The victims recounted receiving numerous threatening phone calls, during which the defendants also called an undertaker and ordered a hearse to collect a child's body from their home, further escalating the terror and distress experienced by the family. These threats caused significant emotional trauma, prompting the victims to implement heightened security measures such as installing security locks and tracking devices to safeguard their family.

In addition to these threats, the duo was convicted of attempting to extort £20,000 from the Fife man. The jury, after deliberating for approximately 45 minutes, unanimously found Colville and McCallum guilty of this charge. Their criminal conduct did not stop there; they were also convicted of trying to extort a further £5,000 from another individual by threatening to assault him and his family. The evidence presented during the trial included mobile phones seized by police, which linked the defendants directly to the threats and intimidation tactics. Police investigations revealed that the defendants had also taken photographs of the victims' children while making these threats, adding a disturbing dimension to their criminal behavior.

During the trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, the prosecution, led by fiscal Alistair McDermid, highlighted the incriminating evidence, including the use of specific language and communication patterns that tied the defendants to the crimes. The victims expressed a sense of relief following the verdict, with one stating outside the court, “We’re elated. Justice has been served. It’s taken (more than) three years away from our lives and our children’s lives too. I’d just like to see them get the same kind of sentence.”

Following their conviction, Colville and McCallum were released on bail under strict conditions, including a ban on entering Fife until their sentencing scheduled for November 18, 2022. The case has underscored the importance of vigilant law enforcement and community awareness in combating such disturbing criminal activities.