Claims of assault at Blair Atholl showpiece

A Perthshire businessman is threatening legal action against the organisers of the Blair Castle International Horse Trials after he was the victim of an alleged assault at the weekend.

Property developer Steven Caldwell claims he was left bruised and battered after an attack by a security guard on Saturday night.

Police issued a formal warning following the incident.

However, the security firm involved denies its employee was to blame and insists it was him who was assaulted in an altercation outside a bar during the prestigious event.

Mr Caldwell, 46, from Auchterarder, was at the trials as a sponsor of an equestrian team.

He said an employee of WH Management Group grabbed him by the throat in an unprovoked assault as he approached the bar after dinner.

Mr Caldwell said: “We showed our wristbands and immediately one of the members of security staff grabbed me by the throat and dragged me round the corner to where the portable toilets are.

“There were another three security staff there, all surrounding me, and this guy was shouting at me while grabbing my throat.

“You don’t expect something like this to happen anywhere, but especially not at a prestigious event and to someone who is there as a sponsor.”

He now intends to seek legal advice about a civil action against the security firm and Blair Castle Horse Trials.

A spokesman for WH Management said its staff had a different version of events, and claimed Mr Caldwell had “pushed his way through” a queue of people before the security guard tried to diffuse the situation.

“The male accosted one staff member who was on the door, who challenged his behaviour which resulted in the male grabbing him and our member of staff subsequently ejected him and returned to his position,” he said.

Andrew Bruce Wooton, general manager Atholl Estates, said: “A member of the public made a behaviour-related complaint last night.

“Atholl Estates will conduct its own internal review into the matter.”