Woman due to have been in court has virus

A woman, spared jail - and having her baby behind bars - after flouting two Perth Sheriff Court orders, is now self-isolating because of COVID fears.

Thirty-year-old Angela Newlands, who has now given birth, was to have appeared on Wednesday to review her progress on restriction of liberty and community payback orders.

But solicitor Pauline Cullerton explained she was not present and that a foster carer was looking after the new baby. The accused had contact last Thursday but the lawyer added:“She has been advised to self-isolate for 10 days.”

Newlands, formerly of Perth’s Tulloch Road but now of North Street, Forfar, was ordered last December to remain in her home from 7pm-7am for six months after she lied to police and attempted to pervert the course of justice.

She was heavily pregnant at the time and the court heard she was due to give birth on January 8.

She will also be supervised by a social worker for 12 months for giving her sister Danielle’s details to police in Perth’s Foundry Lane after failing to observe a one-way sign.

The orders were imposed as a“direct alternative”to prison.

After hearing that the accused had been complying with the restriction of liberty order, Sheriff Gillian Wade agreed to fix a further review for May

19.

Newlands and her then boyfriend were previously acquitted of murdering 22-year-old Annalise Johnstone in May 2018.