A TRANS butcher is being held by tonight over an 11-year-old girl’s disappearance.
Andrew Miller, 53 — also known as Amy — was arrested after the child was found at a house in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, following a 27-hour search.
3The butchers shop on Main Street is closed and being guarded by policCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
3Photo of J.K. Rowling in butchers windowCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
3Forensic officers are continued their investigation todayCredit: Steve WelshCops were today combing the family butchers’ shop linked to the trans suspect held tonight.
Police motors guarded the business run by Andrew who was quizzed over the youngster’s disappearance.
Villagers revealed that a 27-hour search ended with the child being seen wrapped in a blanket and carried out of a house in the Gattonside area of Galashiels, Selkirkshire, two miles from her home.
Miller was arrested at around 9.30pm on Monday.
Today, police searched the shop he manages in nearly Melrose, Roxburghshire, as forensic officers probed the property in Gattonside for evidence.
A local told The Scottish Sun: “Andrew has been known as Amy for some time and often wore a wig and women’s clothes.
“The shop has been shut for a while and Andrew, or Amy as he’s known, hasn’t been seen here since then.”
The Millers of Melrose business was featured in the novel Career of Evil by JK Rowling, under her pen-name Robert Galbraith.
A signed picture of the Harry Potter author and a framed extract from the 2015 crime fiction book remains in the window.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “A 53-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of an 11-year-old girl from Galashiels, who was reported missing on Sunday.
“The girl was traced at a property in the Galashiels area around 9.30pm on Monday.
“Inquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.”
Last night one of the schoolgirl’s relieved relatives said: “She’s home, that’s the main thing. It’s up to the police to do their job.”
Yesterday cops stood guard by a cordon on a street in Gattonside.
Officers taped off the cul-de-sac and it is understood that they visited the residential spot on Monday night.
A local dad said: “The police turned up on Monday night.
“We were told it was something to do with the missing girl but I didn’t see anyone coming or going.
“It’s very worrying to have this here, especially as a father of two young kids myself.”
The youngster was reported missing from the Gala Park area of Galashiels.
She had been last seen heading towards her family home.
Police described her disappearance as “very out of character” and a huge search was launched.
On Monday locals, police and search and rescue teams scoured the town’s streets, green spaces and waterways.
But the frantic hunt came to an end when she was found at a house in the area.
Just hours earlier officers said they were “extremely concerned” for her welfare.
Miller had recently expressed his support for the SNP’s gender self-ID Bill, writing on Facebook: “Silly Billys in Westminster . . . Never mess with Scottish Transgender Issues.”
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Story Credit: thesun.co.uk