Former Melrose butcher has name stripped from High Street

A former Melrose butcher has had his name stripped from the High Street after locals complained it had become "a stain on the town".

Andrew Miller has sold his town centre shop after being convicted of abducting and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in the Borders earlier this year.

The property, which boasted the slogan: "Millers of Melrose - 4th Generation Family Butchers", had been boarded up since his arrest in February.

The 53-year-old cross-dresser - who also goes by the name Amy George - is due to be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh today (Wednesday, October 18th).

READ MORE: Borders butcher who abducted and sexually assaulted girl, 11, is sentenced

Welcoming the move, local councillor Jenny Linehan - a former prosecutor at Selkirk Sheriff Court - told Greatest Hits Radio: "I know the local community are delighted to see the name removed. It was a constant reminder.

"Certainly, local businesses have felt it's had a negative consequence on tourism locally."

But she added: "I'm delighted to say the property has been sold, it's under new management."

It comes as a relief to the town's remaining butcher, who revealed he feared his premises could be targeted by vigilantes, in a case of mistaken identity, after details of the case were first reported.

The well-respected businessman, who we've decided not to name, said the Miller name had become "a stain on the town". And, he added, his thoughts were with the young girl and her family.

But, while the Miller name has been removed from the High Street in Melrose, the Jaguar car which he abducted the girl in remains parked in the driveway outside his boarded-up home in nearby Gattonside.

Councillor Linehan, who represents Leaderdale and Melrose on Scottish Borders Council, said the impact the case has had on the local community has been "huge".

And she added: "My heart goes out to the child and her family; I really hope with sentencing there will be some closure for them."

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