OAp faces historic abuse charges

A 74-year-old man has maintained his not guilty plea at perth Sheriff Court to three historic child sexual abuse charges involving two children.

one is said to have been just eight when pensioner AlanWilliams began behaving indecently towards them - and it is claimed that it took place“on various occasions”over a five-year period, beginning in 2000.

the other was aged nine when it is alleged they were abused, first between 2004 and 2007, and again between 2007 and 2008.

he is accused of subjecting the youngsters to a catalogue of abuse at a cottage in perthshire, and at an unknown address in Angus.

It is alleged that between June 13, 2000, and June 12, 2005, Williams used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards one child, placed his hand down their lower clothing and rubbed their naked private parts with his hand.

he is also said to have pushed them on the body, causing them to fall out of bed, struck them on the buttocks and made violent threats

the oAp is also accused of pushing the child to the floor of a van and pinning them down, all to their injury.

Williams has also denied using the same type of behaviour towards the other child on various occasions between June 15, 2004, and June 14, 2007, and between June 15, 2007, and June 14, 2008.

he is said to have asked them to sit on his leg, placed his hand down their lower clothing and rubbed their naked private parts and touched their naked chest.

he is also alleged to have forced them to commit a sex act on him.

Williams, ofWalker Court, Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire, did not appear personally in court but was represented by his lawyer who denied all three counts on the indictment.

A further pre-trial hearing was scheduled for June 3.

From May 17 Perth and Kinross residents will be able to hug loved ones in other households and pubs will welcome back punters indoors as COVID restrictions ease.

Along with the removal of physical distancing in homes from Monday, six people from three households will be allowed to meet in private homes - one more household than previously planned.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also confirmed a move to level two as well as outdoor socialising limits increasing to eight people from eight households, pubs and restaurants being able to serve alcohol to customers indoors, and cinemas, bingo halls, some leisure centres and entertainment venues permitted to reopen.

Events allowances will also be expanded with up to 100 able to attend an indoor event, 250 for outdoor standing and 500 for outdoors with seating.

However, owner of the Robert Burns Lounge, which has no outside seating area, Edward Gray says Perth and Kinross Council should give more clarity on how pubs are allowed to function indoors.

Edward is wary after his pub was forced to close in November by the council over a licensing dispute.

He began serving soups and sandwiches to alcohol buying customers, at the time when the region was also in tier two.

But the council outlined that to sell food registration with the council was needed at least 28 days prior to reopening, which Edward refuted claming he already had all the necessary food certificates.

He said: “We are welcoming people back on Monday but nobody has been round from the council to say how you can open.

“They say go on the internet but not everyone has access to that, especially the older generation.

“There has been no help from PKC on how the pubs should be operating.

“We will be welcoming customers back on Monday but don’t know what to tell them on where to sit or how to act.

“And the restrictions say there are rules against making sounds and shouting in pubs.

“A lot of businesses in town have booked up for the cup final but how can you expect anyone to watch it on the screen in silence?

“It will be mental and the council need to go in and help landlords.”

Dickens bar owner Christina McCarron hopes the latest rule easing means “goodbye to COVID” and marks the end of pubs being forced to close.

She said: “We absolutely just want to open and see our regulars again.

“We want this to be the last of the lockdowns and hopefully that is it and we can say goodbye to COVID and get back to some form of normality.

“The easing of restrictions on Monday will be a benefit to everybody that has a business in Perth.”

In preparation for the rules relaxation, Kinross Parish Church has made changes to the arrangements for in-person worship in the church.

Minister Alan Reid says: “As we are now permitted to reopen the gallery, we are able to accommodate about twice as many people as hitherto.

“There should be enough space for everyone who currently wishes to come to the church in person.

“Accordingly, you can now come to our 10.30am service on Sunday on a first-come-first-served approach, although you are still strongly encouraged to book in advance through the church office on 01577 862570 and office@ kinrossparishchurch.org

“It goes without saying that the in-person experience in church is very different from what it was before lockdown but it is an opportunity for some limited physical interaction with your fellow-Christians.

“There is a long way to go yet but we have to start somewhere and I look forward to seeing some of you face-to-face again when you feel comfortable coming back to the church building.”

Chief executive of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Vicki Unite said it is a “welcome step on the road to recovery” for businesses in Perthshire, in particular the tourism and leisure sectors.

But she added: “It is certainly not time to pop the champagne corks yet.

“The travel industry will be operating on an extremely restricted schedule and through a much narrower window, but at least this provides some optimism going forward.

“It is welcoming too - for operators and patrons - that cinemas can start to reopen and wider leisure activities can resume.

“Inevitably though some businesses will still be unable to open their doors and it is vital that the Government continues to offer support to those who remain badly affected and that appropriate grants are available as soon as possible.”

The Scottish Government also announced the rollout of a traffic light system with a list of foreign countries Scots can travel to without the need for quarantine.

• No deaths from COVID-19 were recorded in Perth and Kinross last week, according to new statistics.

Data from the National Records of Scotland show the number of death certificates with the coronavirus mentioned as a cause remained static at 252.

The seven day infection rate has risen slightly in the past week and two neighbourhoods - Muirton and Moncrieffe and Friartion- are recording an infection rate of over 100 per 100,000 people.

The latest overall infection rate in the region is 15.1 per 100,000 up until May 9, up from 13.2 the week before. That was after 23 positive cases, or 0.7 per cent of all tests.

On May 4, the infection rate dropped to its lowest level since September 14, recorded at 7.2.