Man, 25, accused of choking attack on woman

A MAN has been charged with endangering his partner’s life by choking her.

Stuart Birtley, 25, allegedly attacked the woman at an address on South Union Street, Cupar, on November 2 2019.

Birtley is accused of punching the woman on the head, seizing her body, pushing her on to a bed and straddling her.

He then allegedly pinned her down, compressed her throat and restricted her breathing, endangering her life as a result.

Birtley, of Cherry Lane, was not present when the case called for a first diet at Dundee Sheriff Court and his solicitor tendered a plea of not guilty on his behalf, intimating a special defence of self defence to the charge. A further first diet was fixed for May.

SCOTTISH Water has been charged with unlawfully polluting a Fife river.

The agency faces claims it carried out a controlled activity liable to cause pollution at the Cupar waste water treatments, Prestonhall Industrial Estate, on October 2 2018.

Prosecutors allege Scottish Water discharged 400 litres of chemicals into the River Eden without authority under the Water Environment (controlled activities) (Scotland) regulations 2011.

The case at Dundee Sheriff Court was continued without plea.

A MAN has been accused of downloading indecent images of children.

Jamie Whyte allegedly committed the offence from his Mauchline Avenue home between August 1 2017 and September 20 2019.

Court papers allege he possessed indecent or pseudo photographs of children.

Whyte allegedly permitted to be taken indecent or pseudo images of children during the same time period.

The 20-year-old pleaded not guilty to the two charges on indictment when he appeared for a first diet at Dundee Sheriff Court.

A further first diet was fixed for May and Whyte’s bail order was allowed to continue.

THOUSANDS of pounds are to be gifted to schools in Perth and Perthshire as a local estate agency pledges to give back to its communities.

Possible, which launched in September 2020, is making a £25 donation to the catchment primary school of each property it lists for sale before a sale has even been made, the only estate agency in Scotland to do so.

In the four months since its creation, the Perth agency has listed 50 properties for sale equating to donations of over £1,000 to the parent councils

A TEENAGER who kicked, bit and spat at medics during a hospital rampage has walked free because of his “immaturity.”

Christopher Simpson wreaked havoc in A&E at Perth Royal Infirmary after collapsing at home due to an 18th birthday cocaine and alcohol bender.

Sheriff Neil Bowie told him at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday: “This is rightly described as an appalling course of conduct.

“You should be, and I’m sure your family are, thoroughly ashamed of your behaviour. You were taken to hospital because of your own conduct.

“Nurses who were there to help you at the height of their busy working conditions were subjected to your disgraceful behaviour.

“It was not an isolated incident, because only two months later you had another outburst of anger in a pub and carried out an unprovoked assault on a man.

“The powers available to me are to send you to Polmont for up to three years. It is about time you matured and understand your behaviour