Trialdelayed andnewcourt dateisset

The trial of a man and a woman, accused of flying a drone carrying a mobile phone into Perth Prison, was put off this week after a vital prosecution witness failed to turn up.

As a consequence, Sheriff Gillian Wade issued an arrest warrant for the missing man - Callum Doig.

The trial has been delayed to a new date on August 14, with an earlier hearing fixed for July 26.

Appearing in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court this week were 32-year-old Philip Moreton and Cheyrell Davie (37), both of Glackburn Farm, Glen Prosen, Angus.

It is alleged that on September 18, 2016, at Perth Prison, they attempted to bring or introduce into the Edinburgh Road jail a mobile telephone, by attaching it to a drone and attempting to fly the device into the prison grounds.

Moreton also faces two other charges - of being in possession of a mobile at the jail on May 4, 2016, and then, on August 9, the same year, attempting to introduce the component parts of a mobile phone into the establishment.

Lawyers for both accused offered no objection to the postponement, despite it being the third trial date to have been set.

The court was told there had been “significant progress”made in the preparations for the trial and a joint minute, agreeing evidence, was in the process of being drawn up.