It is said that in February, William Kelly lit his mother, who is 71 years old, on fire.

A Kilmarnock man will go on trial for allegedly burning his mother to death.

On Tuesday, July 6, at a brief hearing held at the Glasgow High Court, William Kelly was confronted with the accusation.

The 41-year-old is charged with killing Catherine Kelly in February of this year at a residence in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

Kelly, according to the prosecution, first dragged the 71-year-old into the premises from a car.

He allegedly attacked her before lighting her on fire.

In relation to his mother, Kelly was also charged with additional counts, which included assault and attempted murder.

Gordon Jackson, his QC, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Novel Trade Norms Scotland’s statistics show that cold call scams cost six figures during the previous six months.

According to fresh estimates, Ayrshire households have lost over £100,000 to rogue traders in just six months.

Residents are being urged to exercise caution by consumer watchdog Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) following the discovery that 23 households saw cold callers between December 2023 and May 2024.

The county’s citizens lost £101,910 in total, one retiree losing £31,000 to contractors who performed subpar roofing work.

In every instance, the rogue traders would give the occupants a cold call and offer to do general maintenance, gardening, roofing, or driveway repair. They took payment up front and then either stopped working altogether or left before the job was finished.

TSS is launching a national campaign called “Shut out Scammers” in collaboration with Police Scotland to combat doorstep scams, misrepresented services, and poorly executed home repairs.

A truck dedicated to raising awareness about scams has been touring Ayrshire as part of the campaign, dispensing informational leaflets and stickers that read “no cold calling” in addition to advise on how to prevent doorstep scams.

According to experts, con artists are changing their strategies to take advantage of the cost-of-living problem. One such approach is posing as government agents and contacting local governments or subsidies on behalf of the government.

Online and social media advertisements with false information and reviews are frequently used by criminals.

The alert comes in response to an increase in complaints about poor or incomplete driveway, landscaping, and roofing work.

In other instances, a business in East Ayrshire defrauded a couple of £1,000 by pretending to be doing roofing work for the council.

The local government, according to the rogue dealers, was intending to make upgrades to the council dwellings in the neighbourhood and was giving homeowners discounts.

In North Ayrshire, a different woman gave her driveway a makeover for £1,000, allegedly from contractors posing as the local authorities.

Nan Geddes is going to have her parking spot for the disabled shifted.

 When road managers attempt to move her disabled parking place, an Ayr grandmother claims she fee imprisoned in her own house.

The 84-year-old Nan Geddes, who has a blue badge, has had a disability parking place outside her Glencairn Road home since April.

However, Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA) is attempting to move the bay further away from Nan’s door due to “an existing driveway” just two months after the lines were painted.

Nan, who has arthritis and undergone two knee replacements, is concerned about the effects of relocating the bay, particularly because parking on Glencairn Road has historically led to conflicts amongst neighbours.

“I’ve reached my limit,” she murmured.

“At the end of January, I submitted an application for a parking space, and I received confirmation that it would be granted.

“I noticed the parking bay when I went outside to make the bed. That was a Thursday; I had met him on the Tuesday.

All hell has broken loose since then. When someone parks across the street, I’ve heard curses and yells at me.

“What’s the deal with folk? What is the world’s problem?

“I’m sleeping all day and I’m up all night, turning night into day.”

ARA was compelled to think about relocating the bay so that it doesn’t obstruct access due to a home with a road across the street.

“I’ve had Roads Alliance at the door twice, once on my birthday,” Nan continued. A warning light had gone on and the garage couldn’t look at it until the following week, so I was unable to move my car until then.

“Last Wednesday, they returned.” I’m confined. The only time I can visit the grocery store is at night, after I’m sure Roads Alliance will have moved their large trucks.

“ARA is trying to get in contact with the owner of the disabled parking bay so it can be relocated close by,” an Ayrshire Roads Alliance representative stated. The present location makes it difficult to access an existing driveway.