Scotland’s captain Richie Berrington takes the catch to dismiss Italy’s Ali Hasan during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Italy and Scotland in Kolkata on February 9, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AP

Luke Ford, 35, an actor from Stirling, Scotland, has been given a 16-year sentence for a series of sexual and physical offences against women. Ford was found guilty of 19 charges that included violence, sexual assault, threats, and abusive behaviour.

Ford, who said he was a body double for Brad Pitt in the 2013 filming of World War Z in Glasgow, used this claim to gain the trust of his victims. The case marks Scotland’s first prosecution of its kind, and it highlights a disturbing campaign of abuse.

According to The Independent, one of the seven rape charges he was convicted of involved behaviour referred to as “stealthing,” which is defined as failing to use a condom without a partner’s knowledge or consent. Ford was found to have deliberately had unprotected sex despite the woman only agreeing to sex with a condom.

He was given a 21-year extended sentence with 16 years in custody at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, the Crown Office said.

The court heard Ford targeted nine female victims over a 12-year campaign of offending that lasted from 2008 to 2020.Non-harassment orders were also granted, banning Ford from contacting or attempting to contact the women.

Detective Inspector Steven Gray said in a statement: “Ford is a dangerous and manipulative sexual predator. I would like to acknowledge how hard this has been for those involved and to also tell them that their testimonies vastly contributed to Ford being convicted. I hope that knowing he is now behind bars for his crimes helps them continue to move forward with their lives.

“Anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault or abuse should contact us. Please be assured that we will do everything we can to ensure we arrest the perpetrators of such crimes.”

South Africa registered a commanding 80-run win in a Women’s T20 World Cup match vs Scotland.© X (formerly Twitter)

Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty on Thursday described her team’s first victory in a Women’s T20 World Cup match for a decade as “very emotional” and suggested it would create “momentum” for the women’s game at home. Bangladesh secured a 16-run win over Scotland in their World Cup opener in Sharjah after posting what appeared to be a flimsy 119-7 in their 20 overs. Their bowling attack, however, tied the Scots down and restricted them to 103-7. 

“I would say that a win after 10 years, we all are very emotional because we have been waiting for this victory for a long time,” said Joty who was playing in her 100th T20I.

“No matter how good the cricket we play, if it doesn’t translate into victory, it means nothing. And I would say for women’s cricket, after a long time, I feel like we have done something. 

“We have always said about Bangladesh that we have to create momentum and then we will move forward with that momentum. Now it seems like we are going to dream of doing something bigger. Similarly, the fans and family who support us in Bangladesh are dreaming that we can do something better than that.”

The momentum for women’s cricket in Bangladesh would have had a far bigger boost had they been staging the event as planned. Instead, weeks of widespread political unrest in Bangladesh, which eventually led to the installation of an interim government, saw the tournament switched to the United Arab Emirates, with Bangladesh remaining as nominal hosts.

“Initially it was very heartbreaking because we always bear in mind that we are going to play in front of our home crowd,” said Joty. 

“But still, the people who came here today, it was brilliant. 

“As a professional player and as a professional team, I think we should move on from the disappointment, not think about what could have been.

“We were able to play here and we are pretty fortunate. We all are healthy and we all are safe and representing our country and got a good win in front of a good number of people. 

“Back home, they were very happy. We will get the reaction of our family and friends and fans. And definitely, they’re in a very good mood right now.”

Scotland’s Saskia Horley, who took 3-13 at the back end of the Bangladesh innings, admitted there was “a bit of disappointment” about losing their first T20 World Cup match but said there was “a hell of a lot of passion and pride” about competing at the World Cup. 

“You know, our captain, Kathyrn Bryce, just said like, we’re going to be history makers here. Anything above that is a bonus.” 

Bangladesh remain in Sharjah for their next Group B game against England on Saturday while Scotland, who were playing their first ever T20 World Cup match, will be up against former champions West Indies in Dubai on Sunday. 

Bangladesh vs Scotland, 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup LIVE Updates© X/@ICC

Mitchell Marsh (right) after Australia’s 3-0 T20I series win over Scotland.© X/@Usama7

Cristiano Ronaldo‘s late strike sealed Portugal’s 2-1 win over Scotland as the 901st goal of the striker’s extraordinary career completed a stirring fightback in Sunday’s Nations League clash. Ronaldo had reached 900 career goals with his 131st international strike in Thursday’s victory over Croatia. The 39-year-old showed no signs of being sated by that incredible milestone as he came off the bench to lift Portugal to their second successive win in Nations League Group A1. The Estadio da Luz in Lisbon rose in unison to chant the relentless Al-Nassr forward’s name after he struck with two minutes to play.

On his 30th birthday, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes fired Portugal’s second half equaliser after his former Old Trafford team-mate Scott McTominay gave Scotland a surprise early lead.

For Portugal boss Roberto Martinez, victory over Scotland could mean some awkward silences at his next family gathering.

Martinez met his wife Beth while playing for Scottish club Motherwell in 2001 and joked before the match he would be delighted to upset his father-in-law by beating Scotland.

He did exactly that, leaving Scotland still waiting for their first win over Portugal.

Beaten 3-2 by Poland at Hampden Park on Thursday, Scotland have won just once in 14 matches, a barren sequence that included their lacklustre failure to make it out of the group stage at Euro 2024.

Steve Clarke’s men have lost six of their nine matches in 2024, with their only victory coming in a friendly against Gibraltar in June.

“When you bring quality players from the bench like Roberto can do you always know there’s a risk,” Clarke said.

“I’m really disappointed for my players because I think they deserved to get something from the game.

“But with the amount of balls that go into the box, you know one of them can go in the back of the net and that’s what happened to us.”

Ronaldo late show

Scotland took a shock lead in the seventh minute when Kenny McLean’s superb cross picked out McTominay, who made a perfectly-timed run to plant his stooping header past Diogo Costa from six yards.

McTominay, who recently moved from United to Napoli, has 10 goals in his last 12 competitive appearances for Scotland.

Rafael Leao threatened an immediate equaliser with a driving run but his shot rippled into the side-netting.

Leao went even closer as he cut in from the left flank for a fierce drive that Angus Gunn pushed away at full stretch.

Antonio Silva wasted a chance created by Leao as he headed over from the AC Milan forward’s dinked cross.

As the Portugal pressure mounted, Gunn made a fine save after Diogo Jota connected with Fernandes’s incisive pass.

It was no surprise to see Ronaldo sent on for the second half and Portugal were immediately improved by his presence.

Taking aim from long-range in the 53rd minute, Fernandes’s 25-yard blast should have been routine for Gunn but his weak attempted save allowed the ball to squirm into the net.

Ronaldo’s audacious backheel gave Joao Felix a sight of goal, only for Gunn to make amends for his earlier error with an excellent stop.

Gunn saved again from Felix’s diving header before Ronaldo turned the rebound against the post.

In the next attack, Ronaldo’s glancing header hit the post and was clawed off the line by Gunn before Felix could convert. 

Portugal’s late surge finally produced the winner in the 88th minute.

Nuno Mendes whipped a cross into the six-yard box, where Ronaldo was lurking to deliver the knockout blow with a typically predatory tap-in.

Josh Inglis celebrates after his century off 43 balls vs Scotland.© AFP

Scotland vs Australia 2nd T20I Highlights© AFP

Picture from Scotland vs Australia second T20I on September 4.© AFP