Gin maker and ex-community council leader charged with fraud

A Dundee businessman and prominent community figure has been charged with fraud.

Peter Menzies, who owns Dundee Gin and the Vine function suite in the West End, is alleged to have formed a fraudulent scheme to obtain alcohol licences from Dundee and Angus councils.

Menzies, a former West End Community Council chairman, is said to have applied to the local authorities through his subordinate, Michael Barbour, for permission to sell alcohol at events.

It is claimed he used the name of former employee Robert Bruce to make the requests.

The charges state that Menzies, 52, made seven fake claims and was granted the licences before the alleged deception was discovered.

The offence is alleged to have been committed between June 5 and July 20 2018 at the Vine on Magdalen Yard Road.

Menzies had his case continued without plea until November 1.

In a separate case heard at Dundee Sheriff Court, a man was accused of climbing on to a vehicle and jumping on the bonnet, windscreen and roof in an alleged road rage incident in the city.

Ewen Mcdonald was accused of shouting, swearing, making abusive remarks and behaving aggressively towards fellow motorist John Edens on Clepington Road.

The 39-year-old was also charged with careless driving by pulling out of a bus stop and causing a motorist to take evasive action on the same road on April 11 2019.

Mcdonald, of Cairnie Loan, Arbroath, pled not guilty to the charges and will stand trial on February 4.