Montrose vandalism trial delay

An arrest warrant has been issued for one teenager and another has been remanded in custody pending their trial over an alleged car vandalism spree in Angus.

The pair, who are 17 and cannot be named for legal reasons, had been due to face trial at Forfar over charges relating to a trail of festive season damage to vehicles in a number of Montrose streets.

The complaint alleges that between December 15 and 29 2016 the two youths targeted vehicles in Bents Road, New Wynd, Museum Street, Caledonian Place, Baltic Street, Erskine Street, Panmure Place, Ferry Street, Provost Reids Road and Russell Street, all in Montrose.

The charge states that they were acting with others at the time and that they damaged the vehicles by striking them with knives and kicking and climbing on them.

It also includes an allegation that they threw a brick, or similar object, at the window of a property at Caledonian Place and damaged a garden fence at Panmure Place.

Between the same dates both teenagers are accused, again while acting with others, of having knives in a public place.

One of the accused, from Montrose, appeared at Forfar for trial and was remanded in custody until the next calling of the case on February 22.

The second teenager, who is from Aberdeen, failed to appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest.