Man denies following women on rural walks

A man is to face trial accused of hiding alongside country lanes, footpaths and cycle tracks and invading the personal space of women taking their daily exercise during lockdown.

Mark Russell is said to have hidden in bushes alongside the rural routes, stepping out when his alleged victims passed by.

Seven women are said to have been targeted by Russell since the Covid-19 outbreak began.

An eighth woman is said to have been followed in the run-up to the crisis.

The incidents are said to have taken place at different spots near the foot of the Ochil hills in Clackmannanshire, and on the West Fife Way cycle route from Clackmannan to Dunfermline.

Russell, 32, is said to have behaved in a threatening and abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person fear and alarm in the case of all eight alleged victims by “maintaining unnecessarily close proximity” to them.

The most recent alleged incident is said to have taken place on May 7, on the old Clackmannan to Dunfermline railway line bike path, where Russell is alleged to have concealed himself in bushes before staring at and pursuing two female passersby, “knowingly failing to observe government Covid-19 social distancing guidelines” while doing so, and thereafter returning to conceal himself in bushes.

It is alleged that in committing this offence he breached an undertaking he had previously given to police to stay away from “cycle paths, nature trails or secluded areas that could be construed as popular walking routes by the public”.

Appearing in handcuffs in the dock at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Russell, of Curlers Court, Dollar, pled not guilty to all eight charges against him.

His lawyer, Dick Sandeman, said Russell would agree to comply with a noon-to-midnight curfew if granted bail.

Sheriff Craig Harris set trial for September 9 at Alloa Sheriff Court, and released Russell on bail, subject to the agreed curfew.

He also ordered Russell to attend any identification parades required by police, at no less than 72 hours notice.