A grieving mother has been persecuted by a drug gang after calling for a probe into the death of her son.
A masked intruder burst into Audra Crerar’s home just months after her son Daniel Thomson Crerar, 27, was found dead in Edinburgh’s Firrhill.
His death was ruled a suicide by police but Audra has asked detectives to re-investigate events that happened before and after he was found dead.
She said her quest for answers has led to threats and armed intruders at her home “because she wants justice for Daniel”.
The 53-year-old bravely spoke out amid a campaign of persecution she has suffered from criminals who want her to keep quiet.
Telling how a thug wearing a balaclava invaded her home shortly after Daniel’s death, she said: “He came to the door masked up and armed with a knife. He said he wanted to have a word with me.
“He went to boot the door in and attack me with the knife. I had a witness in the house at the time.
“I’ve had drug people wanting to know where I live because of Daniel and things that happened before he died. This is all because I keep doing what I can to highlight his death.”
Audra admits her son was involved in the drug scene and had a criminal record before he was found dead in woodland near her home in August 2020.
But she insists he was trying to turn his life around and suffered violent threats and intimidation before his death.
She said: “Daniel had raised concerns about drugs in the area. Some children of a person he knew being around drugs was a worry for him. He had contacted other family members and expressed his concerns.
“Daniel was threatened when the dealers tried to jump him. My son was reformed and didn’t want to be part of that culture any more. He had been to Greece and worked there for a few months and was due to go back before he died.”
Audra added: “The day before he died we’d been to a neighbour’s BBQ. He was looking forward to going back to Greece.
“Daniel was happy and loving life. I do not believe he would leave me the way he did. He knew I was alone. I have felt continually harassed since I lost my son. I need to know why he died.”
Calling for a renewed investigation into events around his death, Audra said: “There are too many questions I haven’t had answers to.
“Daniel had threats on his phone, he was taunted by a drug gang that they would take him away in a van, he was threatened with a baseball bat and this was just before he died. I feel very strongly that my son’s death is suspicious.”
Audra has raised her concerns with Police Scotland’s professional standards unit but her complaints over the handling of the inquiry were not upheld.
She added: “I miss my son and I won’t stop. I feel he has been denied justice.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On Sunday 2 August, 2020, police were called to an area near Firrhill Drive, Edinburgh. Officers attended and a 27-year-old man was pronounced dead.
"Enquiries were carried out and the death was not treated as suspicious. A report was forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.
“A complaint relating to this matter was received in July 2021 and this was responded to by Police Scotland, Professional Standards Department.”
They added: “We would encourage anyone who is the victim of any criminality to report this to police and it will be fully investigated.”
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