Man and woman arrested over theft and damage at church

POLICE: Man and woman arrested more than 100 miles away

A man and woman have appeared in court in connection with a break-in at a Perthshire church.

The raid at the 160-year-old Blackford parish kirk stunned the community.

Minister Mairi Perkins was left in tears after finding widespread destruction in the body of the church. A pulpit was toppled, a christening font was smashed and Bibles were left scattered.

Several items were reported missing including a box of handbells worth thousands of pounds.

Detectives investigating the break-in have now arrested two people. The pair were traced more than 100 miles away in the Scottish Highlands.

Andrew Park, 33, and Louise Coburn, 45, appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court to faces charges of theft, housebreaking and forcing open a locked place with intent.

The pair, who are from the Auchterarder area, are also accused of malicious mischief, carrying a knife or bladed weapon and misuse of drugs.

Park was remanded in custody during the short, private hearing while Coburn was released on bail.

No date has been set for their next appearance in court.

The church has been out of bounds since the raid in the early hours of Sunday February 5.

Worshippers were turned away when they arrived for their weekly service later that day. They arrived to find police forensic teams combing for clues in and around the building.

The congregation has moved to a temporary meeting place at Ardoch Parish Church in Braco.

Members were warned that the kirk may be closed for several weeks.

Speaking after the incident, the Rev Perkins said she was “saddened and distressed” by the incident. “It came as a real shock to us all,” she said.

The Moderator of the Presbtery of Perth, the Rev Scott Burton, said: “We are offering as much prayerful and practical support to those affected as we can, believing, as always, that light can come out of darkness and hope out of despair.”

The historic Parish of Blackford was formerly the Parish of Strageath, founded by St Fergus in the eighth century.

Its name was changed to Blackford in 1617 by an Act of Parliament.

An unmarked police car outside Blackford Parish Church.