Human trafficking charges against Stagecoach tycoon dropped

Human trafficking charges against bus tycoon Dame Ann Gloag have been dropped, the Crown Office has confirmed.

The Stagecoach co-founder was charged alongside three other family members by Police Scotland in January 2023, with Dame Ann, 81, strongly denying any wrongdoing.

The alleged human trafficking and immigration offences were said to have occurred between 2007 and 2022.

In an update on Wednesday, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said there would be no further proceedings taken at this time unless additional evidence became available.

Dame Ann welcomed the news, but a spokesperson for the tycoon added: "The threat that these malicious allegations have posed to Dame Ann's legacy has been devastating and acute.

"The resulting waste of public funds and police time is deeply concerning and raises serious questions.

"Dame Ann looks forward to moving forward with her life and will take time to reflect on the future focus of her charitable giving."

Dame Ann is one of Scotland's richest women, having founded the Stagecoach Group with her brother, Sir Brian Souter, in 1980.

The Perth-based business expanded to become one of the UK's largest bus and coach operators and is now managed by DWS Infrastructure.

Dame Ann - who was made a dame for her business and charity work - also founded the Gloag Foundation, a charitable trust which works to support projects that "prevent or relieve poverty and encourage the advancement of education, health and religion in the UK and overseas", according to its website.

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A spokesperson for COPFS said: "The procurator fiscal received a report relating to two females then aged 81 and 48 and two males then aged 73 and 54, and incidents alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2022.

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"After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, including the available admissible evidence, independent Crown counsel instructed that there should be no proceedings taken at this time.

"The Crown reserves the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available, and it is in the public interest to do so."