Trial set over alleged COVID travel rule breach

A man appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court on the last day of 2020, accused of flouting level four COVID travel restrictions.

The 25-year-old, who lives in Edinburgh, is alleged to have travelled into Perth and Kinross, in breach of the 2020 Health Protection (Coronavirus) Restrictions and Requirements Regulations.

In one of the first cases of its kind to come before the Perth court, Olufemi Odewusi, of Beaverbank Place, was granted bail but special conditions have been imposed.

He has been banned from entering Perth unless for a pre-arranged meeting with his solicitor.

And he will also have to sign on at St Leonard’s Police Station, Edinburgh, between 9am and 4pm every week day.

He denied two charges when he appeared before Sheriff William Wood.

It is alleged that on December 30, 2020, at Perth Police headquarters in Barrack Street, and en route to the force’s West Bell Street office in Dundee, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by acting aggressively and demanding money.

He is also said to have struck his head on a public service vehicle and shouted and swore.

It is also claimed that the same day, at the Perth police office, he breached the restriction in Section 5 (1) of the regulations by entering the city while being a person who does not live in Perth and Kinross.

Odewusi is alleged to have been subject to a December 27, 2020, bail order from Dundee Sheriff Court at the time.

His trial was fixed for June 30 and an earlier hearing was scheduled for June 10.