Accused lodges mental illness defence

A PERTH man accused of causing a disturbance at a tower block in the city told a court he has no memory of the alleged incident.

Mark Clephane, 31, is on trial accused of threatening or abusive behaviour at the Pomarium Street flats in the early hours of April 9 2020.

It is alleged he shouted, swore and made “disablist” remarks towards an officer.

He is further accused of restricting, obstructing or hindering police by barricading the entrance to his flat and an internal door with furniture in an attempt to prevent them getting inside.

Clephane also faces allegations he failed to comply with a breath test, after police suspected he was driving a car after taking drink or drugs, and failing to provide specimens of breath.

He faces a further charge of possession of cannabis.

Clephane denied all charges at Perth Sheriff Court.

His solicitor David Holmes has lodged a special defence, claiming his client was suffering mental illness at the time.

On the second day of the trial – which began in April – former labourer Clephane was asked by fiscal depute Andrew Harding about a police presence at his flat in 2020.

Clephane said “it was all a blur” and said he had no recollection of events.

He agreed that there may have been cannabis in his flat at the time.

And he said he could not dispute evidence of police officers.

Clephane told Mr Holmes that he had been receiving mental health treatment around that time.

He said he was “struggling” at the beginning of lockdown.

The trial, before Sheriff Francis Gill, was adjourned until July 11.

A 21-YEAR-OLD from Dundee is facing a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of raping two underage schoolgirls.

A jury found Jordan Pearson guilty of having sex with the two 13-year-olds at parties while they were intoxicated and incapable of giving or withholding consent.

Pearson was also convicted of having consensual sex with a girl aged 13 at the time and of sexually assaulting another young female.

The High Court at Livingston was told the accused would turn up late at house parties and ask drunk schoolgirls to talk in private.

He took them into a bedroom and raped them at addresses in Dundee during a course of criminal conduct between November 2018 and August 2019.

Giving evidence in his own defence, Pearson claimed he was the victim of “a big set-up” and denied that he had “an unhealthy interest in young girls”.

He denied being at a party where one of the alleged rapes was committed until police showed him a video proving he was present.

Perth Sheriff Court