Pair accused of robbery and assault

Two Coatbridge men are to go on trial next month charged with robbery and holding a knife to a man’s throat.

Anthony Black, 27, and Charles Boyle, 23, both pleaded not guilty at Airdrie Sheriff Court earlier this month to two incidents which were alleged to have taken place on September 21 and 22 last year.

It was claimed that the pair assaulted a man at Hawthorn Lane, near to Calder Street in Coatbridge, by demanding money, punching him on the head and demanding he provided his pin number for his bank card.

It was then alleged the pair presented a knife at him and held it to his throat, made threats and robbed him of cash and a mobile phone.

The following day, at Calder Street, it was alleged Black and Boyle assaulted another man by repeatedly punching him on the head and body, causing him to fall to the ground, before robbing him of money and a watch.

Black, whose address was given as a prisoner of Addiewell, was alleged to have been on bail at the time; an order imposed on him at Coatbridge Justice of the Peace Court on August 8 last year.

Boyle, of Cumbrae Crescent in Sikeside, was also said to have been on bail at the time, imposed on him at Airdrie Sheriff Court on September 18 last year.

The pair’s not guilty pleas were intimated to the court by their respective lawyers, John McGeechan and Paul Belardo.

Sheriff Vincent Smith then set a sheriff and jury trial for March 2 and both men were remanded in custody.