New date set over driving charges

A man, charged with two counts of driving dangerously in the centre of Auchterarder and striking two teenage boys, has had a further court hearing fixed for June 10.

That will give the defence more time to investigate the possibility of obtaining video evidence to support their case.

Fifty-eight-year-old Graeme Duncan, of High Street, Auchterarder, is accused of hitting first a 15-year-old boy and then a 16-year-old youth with his car in separate incidents.

A seven-charge indictment also accuses him of having a baseball bat in his possession.

He didn’t appear personally at Perth Sheriff Court but was represented by lawyer David Holmes.

It is alleged that on October 31, 2019, on Hunter Street and High Street, Auchterarder, Duncan drove dangerously, mounted the pavement and drove along it towards the 15-year-old, who can’t be named because of his age.

It is then claimed that he caused the vehicle to strike the teen.

Duncan is also said to have behaved in a threatening or abusive manner – “likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm”– by shouting in an aggressive manner at the boy.

A further charge states that he had a baseball bat in his possession at the time.

A second charge of dangerous driving is said to have taken place in Crown Wynd, Auchterarder, again on October 31, 2019.

This time he is accused of driving round a corner at speed, in the direction of two 16 year-old youths, causing his car to strike one of them.

Duncan is also alleged to have shouted in an aggressive manner towards two boys, aged 14 and 13, in Hunter Street.

A sixth charge claims that the accused attempted to strike a different 14 year-old with the baseball bat in Hunter Street on the same date.

None of the youths in these last three charges can be identified because of their ages.

The final charge states that on an occasion different to the one specified above, Duncan again had the baseball bat in Hunter Street.

The defence is making inquiries regarding the availability of video footage.

It is thought this may be available from a local pub.