Advocate accused of kicking young boy

William Adam also denies attacking pregnant woman at address in Blairgowrie

One of Scotland’s leading criminal defence advocates has been accused of repeatedly kicking a child and attacking a pregnant woman in separate incidents.

William Adam, 57, appeared in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court and denied attacking an eight-year-old boy by kicking him a number of times.

Adam – who has also worked for the Crown as a procurator fiscal depute prosecuting criminal cases – also denied assaulting a pregnant woman.

He initially appeared before Sheriff Christopher Shead, but the sheriff told the court he knew who the accused was and he asked to be recused from hearing the case because of a potential conflict of interest.

Adam – who was paid £77,000 by the Scottish Legal Aid Board during 2016-17 to defend criminal cases – had to return to court later to appear before a different sheriff.

The case was then heard by Sheriff William Wood and Adam, from Brechin Road, Forfar, entered not guilty pleas to all four of the charges against him.

He denied that on various occasions between June 1 2013 and October 12 2014, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear or alarm by shouting and swearing and being aggressive towards his former partner.

He denied that between October 11 and 12 2014, he assaulted her while she was pregnant by repeatedly pushing a door against her body at an address in Blairgowrie.

Adam denied that between November 25 and 26 2014, he attacked an eight-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, by repeatedly kicking him on the body to his injury.

He also denied behaving in a threatening or abusive way towards the boy in Blairgowrie by repeatedly pushing a door and forcing entry in an aggressive manner.

Adam was granted bail by Sheriff Wood, but a number of special conditions were attached which will remain in place until the trial takes place in May.

He was banned from approaching or contacting the woman and the boy, along with a third named person who also cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Adam studied law at Dundee University and completed a traineeship in private practice before joining the fiscal service as a prosecutor.

He was called to the bar in 2003 and has worked as a criminal advocate in courts across Scotland.