Trial date set for neglect case

An Angus couple will face trial later this month on child neglect charges alleging that they forced three youngsters into ice-cold baths.

The pair, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are being prosecuted under the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 for offences alleged to have happened between 2014 and 2016.

They deny keeping one child at risk of injury in an ice-cold bath between July 29 2014 and March 1 2015, another between March 1 2015 and March 28 2015 and the woman is accused of keeping a third in the same conditions between March 28 2015 and March 27 2016.

The accused were not present for the latest calling of the case before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown, their attendance having previously been excused.

However, their solicitor said the pair were prepared for trial and set to attend court at the end of this month.

That followed a previous warning to them from the bench after childcare issues were cited as a possible reason for the couple being unable to attend court.

The sheriff told them the “bottom line” was that the trial would proceed and care arrangements would have to be made.

Defence solicitor Lynne Sturrock said: “The trial had gone off previously because there were childcare difficulties. Those difficulties have been overcome.”

Trial was set for August 28.