Man, 18, misses court date due to ‘travel sickness’

One of six accused charged with staging ‘hooded, masked’ breach of peace

A sheriff has ordered the arrest of a man accused of being part of a gang in an Angus town after he ignored a court date because he suffers from travel sickness.

Jay Buchan had been due to appear at Forfar Sheriff Court as one of six accused charged with staging a hooded and masked breach of the peace last August.

They are alleged to have thrown stones and building blocks in an incident broadcast over social media.

Amidst additional security at the Angus courthouse yesterday, only two of the group – a 30-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman – appeared in front of Sheriff Gregor Murray.

He issued arrest warrants in respect of 18-year-old Buchan and a 39-year-old co-accused from the same address in Glasgow.

Gordon Buchan and Jay Buchan, both of the city’s Glenfinnan Road, face a single breach of the peace charge alongside Karen Ferry, 48, of Lilac Avenue, Dalkeith; Karl Day, 30, of Barrie Court, Livingston; Marcin Kuciak, 38, Easter Drylaw Place, Edinburgh, and Ann Hughes, 62, of Drimmin Road, Steps.

They all deny breaching the peace in Old Halkerton Road, Forfar, on August 15 last by going there as a group, wearing hoods and masks, trying to enter a property there and repeatedly striking a door.

The charge also alleges the group threw stones at a window, brandished a building block and gesticulated to throw it, made offensive remarks and threats to kill, damaged an umbrella and broadcast their behaviour live on social media.

Solicitor Nick Markowski, acting for Jay Buchan, told the court the accused had not come to Forfar because he was also due to attend Airdrie Sheriff Court today and suffered from travel sickness.

Moving for a warrant to be issued, depute fiscal Laura McGillvery told Sheriff Murray: “He contacted our office in Forfar at 3.45pm on Monday saying he had a case calling in Airdrie tomorrow for a similar matter.

“I subsequently checked the court list and could find no case.”

Gordon Buchan, who is representing himself, also failed to attend. No explanation was offered for his absence.

The court was told Ferry was on a pre-booked holiday in Scotland and was also not in attendance.

Day and Hughes were in court to adhere to their not guilty pleas.

Sheriff Murray issued warrants for the arrest of Gordon Buchan and Jay Buchan. The case was continued until October 29.