Prolific offender in court as blade found in his cell

A knife thug once branded “Scotland’s most dangerous teen” has appeared back in court after he was caught with a blade and a mobile phone in his prison cell.

- by Alexander Lawrie

Darren Cornelius, 35, was found to have the knife and the phone hidden in his cell during a routine search at HMP Edinburgh on October 7 last year.

He pleaded guilty to possessing the phone and knife at a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month and was due to appear for sentencing on Wednesday, April 16.

But he failed to appear after it emerged he had been the victim of a prison attack believed to be linked to the recent gang war that has erupted in Edinburgh and Glasgow.