Pair to stand trial accused of robbery involving a knife

Two men are to stand trial accused of turning up at an Angus man’s house and pretending to be detectives to find out who he was – before then subjecting him to a robbery involving a knife.

John Robertson, 37, of Godfrey Avenue, Denny, and Aynsley Paterson, 44, of Livingstone Drive, Laurieston, Falkirk, are alleged to have robbed Sean Thain at addresses in Arbroath on June 26 last year.

It is alleged they turned up at Mr Thain’s home address in the town and stated they were officers from Police Scotland’s Criminal Investigation Department “in order to ascertain his identity”.

Prosecutors say the pair then presented a knife at him, “induced him to get into a vehicle” and made him withdraw money from an ATM and robbed him of £150.

Both men denied a charge of assault and robbery during a pre-trial hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday.

Defence lawyers for the pair said they were fully prepared for a trial.

The case is estimated to last two to three days.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael set a trial date in June and released both men on bail.

At Forfar Sheriff Court a warrant was issued for the arrest of a Forfar man when he failed to appear on a festive-season theft charge.

Michael Stewart, 32, of Glenmoy Terrace, is facing a summary complaint alleging that he stole a pair of trainers from Peacocks on Castle Street, Forfar, on December 24.

Also at Forfar, Halim Cholmeley, 44, of Osprey Drive, Forfar, appeared before Sheriff Jillian Martin-brown.

He maintained a plea of not guilty to assaulting a male by repeatedly punching him on the head and body at the car park of Forfar Community Campus, Kirriemuir Road, on March 23.

Cholmeley has intimated a special defence of self-defence.

Sheriff Martin-brown set an intermediate diet of June 12, with a trial date scheduled for July 6.