Sex case accused may be abroad
A man accused of multiple sex attacks may have fled abroad, detectives believe.
David MacBride, 42, failed to appear at the High Court in Glasgow to face rape, sexual assault and assault charges.
The offences are alleged to have taken place across Fife between 2006 and 2015. Some alleged victims were children.
A war rant has been issued for the arrest of MacBride, from Kirkcaldy, following his fai lure to turn up at court, where he was due to have a pre-trial hearing.
He had been granted bai l at an earl ier appearance at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
Detectives are now investigating claims that he has left the UK and could be in Poland, where he has friends.
It is understood officers will attempt to obtain an international arrest warrant once they locate his exact whereabouts.
They had to break the news that the trial would not be going ahead to MacBride’s alleged victims.
When he appeared before the sheriff court, he gave his address as a campsite in the Lake District town of Ulverston, Cumbria.
The Crown Off ice and police said last night they could not comment on the case.
MacBride is facing 19 charges, including eight alleged rapes.
Three adult women and an 11- year- old girl have claimed they were victims of serious sexual assaults.
He is also accused of sexually assaulting a fiveyear- old girl.
Six of the rape charges involve one woman and the offences are said to have taken place over a four-year period in Fife.
One of MacBride’s alleged assault v ict ims was a three-year-old boy.