Men to stand trial on string of charges

TWO MEN appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, accused of being part of a team of travelling housebreakers who stole around £30,000 worth of property.

Robert Smith, 36, of Laburnum Avenue, Beith, and John McLeese, 27, of Witches Linn, Ardrossan, both Ayrshire, will stand trial at the court on April 25 .

They deny that between March 18 and 19 they stole quad bikes from Mains of Pi t g u r, Killiecrankie, and Derculich, Strathtay.

Smith and McLeese also deny that on the same dates they broke into Strathtay Golf Club, Pitlochry, and stole a garden strimmer.

In addition, they pleaded not guilty to a charge that on March 19 at Milton of Tulliemet Farm, Pitlochry, they stole a quantity of tools.

Colin Pearson, 25, of Paduff Place, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire — who also faces the first three charges — did not a p p e ar ye s t e r d a y and his case wa s continued without plea until April 10, the date of an intermediate diet.