Scots mum cleared of witch monument murder faked having baby to scam elderly men

**Scots Mum Cleared of Witch Monument Murder Faked Having Baby to Scam Elderly Men**

**Angela Newlands, 34**, a Scottish woman who was cleared of the murder of her ex-boyfriend’s sister at a **Scots witch monument**, has been found guilty of a series of deceitful crimes. Newlands was revealed to have faked having a young baby to manipulate elderly and vulnerable men into giving her cash.

The deceitful acts of Newlands included stealing eight cockapoo puppies, throwing most of them over a fence, and a string of thefts and fraud. She targeted elderly victims, as old as 85, by pretending to be interested in relationships with them, using stolen bank cards to steal hundreds of pounds from them.

Prosecutor Sam Craib revealed in court on Tuesday, November 26, that Newlands duped multiple victims by fabricating stories about needing money for a non-existent baby. She even went to the extent of faking injuries to manipulate people into giving her lifts in their cars, only to rob them later.

One victim, **Matthew Hume, 58**, gave Newlands around £10-£12 after she claimed she needed money for nappies and baby milk. Another victim, **David Smeaton, 56**, was led to believe that they were in a romantic relationship, with Newlands borrowing money from him under a false identity.

Newlands’ web of deception also involved taking advantage of an elderly man, **Edward Milne, 85**, by feigning romantic interest and attempting to stay overnight at his house after duping him for money. In another incident, she stole from a volunteer at a food bank and used their bank card to make unauthorized purchases.

Additionally, Newlands confessed to stealing bank cards by entering people’s cars, invoking sympathy by claiming to have health issues post-childbirth. She was also involved in the theft of puppies and admitted to hurling most of them over a fence.

Judge **Sheriff George Way** kept Newlands in custody pending her sentencing, acknowledging the complexity of her crimes. Newlands accepted responsibility for her actions, attributing them to substance misuse and an abusive relationship that pressured her into committing crimes.

Newlands’ disturbing activities shed light on the vulnerable positions the elderly can be placed in when targeted by scams. The case serves as a stark reminder to remain vigilant and cautious when approached with dubious and emotionally manipulative requests for assistance.