Witness no-show sees trial delayed again
The trial of a man accused of threatening to send an intimate video of a woman to a family member has been delayed for a second time.
Twenty-five-year-old Nathan McLaren, of Dunsinane Drive, Perth, is also said to have carried out a sustained attack on the same female, his partner or ex-partner, at various locations in Scone, Crieff and Perth, over almost a year.
Lack of court time prompted the first delay and he was to have faced trial in December. But an important witness failed to turn up.
The trial has now been re-scheduled for March 23 and his bail has been continued meantime.
It is alleged that on one occasion between February 7 and 10, 2019, at Newlands Cottages, Scone, McLaren threatened to disclose the video which showed, or appeared to show, the woman “in an intimate situation.”
It is claimed that he threatened to show the material to a family member of hers and, in doing so, intended to cause her fear, alarm or distress.
It is alleged that on various occasions between February 25, 2018, and February 5, 2019, at Newlands, Scone, South Bridge End, Crieff, the Bank Bar, South Methven Street, Perth, and houses in Perth’s Dunkeld Road and Dalreoch Place, he assaulted his then partner.
It is claimed that he pushed her on the body, causing her to fall and strike her head, and that he threw a phone at her.
He is then said to have kicked her on the body, seized her by the hair, struck her on the head and pushed her into a bush.
He is further accused of repeatedly pushing her to the ground and throwing a piece of wood at her, all to her injury.
A further charge alleges that on various occasions between April 7, 2018, and February 22, 2019, at Perth’s Salutation Hotel in South Street, King Street, Crieff, and Pomarium, Perth, he engaged in a course of conduct which caused the female, described at that time as his ex-partner, fear or alarm.
He is said to have repeatedly attended uninvited at these places.
Another charge states that on various occasions between December 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019, at Newlands Cottages, Scone, he repeatedly sent abusive and threatening messages via social media to the woman.