Man accused of attacking wife and policeman

Director faces allegations of torching possessions and reversing van at woman

A company director has been accused of endangering his wife’s life by trashing part of his home, dousing it in petrol and torching it in front of her.

Kenneth Manders is also alleged to have poured washing up liquid over her head and reversing his van at her twice.

He is alleged to have struck her with the van door and knocked her down.

He is also said to have driven at a police officer before trying to punch him.

The 58-year-old appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court and denied all 10 charges relating to events in Perthshire on May 25 last year.

Manders, now of Lewis Place, Perth, is accused of punching a hole in a wall and smashing glasses and crockery.

He is alleged to have assaulted his wife at Balgowan Sawmill, Tibbermore, four times in a day before turning on police.

He is alleged to have smashed a shed, kicked a fence, smashed a phone and thrown items on the drive before setting them on fire. He allegedly did this in the presence of his wife and others, endangering their lives.

Manders is alleged to have thrown household items at his wife, throttled her and threatened to punch her while shouting and swearing at her.

He is accused of attacking Constable George Wilkie by reversing at him and repeatedly trying to punch him.

Manders, a director of KS Manders International Transport Ltd, denies dangerous driving by repeatedly cutting his van in front of his wife’s vehicle and braking, causing her to crash into him.

He was bailed until trial in October.