Couple cleared of abducting police officers at their home

COURT: Jury also doubted claims that PCs were threatened with air rifle

A couple who were accused of abducting two police officers at their home and threatening them with an air rifle wept after being cleared of all charges.

Philip Moreton, 31, and Cheyrell Davie, 35, were told they could walk free from the High Court in Edinburgh by judge Lord Pentland yesterday.

The judge spoke moments after jurors returned not proven verdicts on charges which alleged the pair acted illegally at their farmhouse near Kirriemuir on March 4.

Prosecutors claimed Mr Moreton pointed an air rifle at PCs Gail Beattie and Gemma Smith after the officers tried to detain him in relation to a domestic abuse allegation.

The Crown also alleged that Ms Davie then prevented them from leaving their property at Glackburn Farm in Glen Prosen by locking the doors.

Both Mr Moreton and Ms Davie denied the allegations and said the officers were mistaken about what happened when they both gave evidence at proceedings last week.

Yesterday jurors returned not proven verdicts on firearms and abduction charges.

Mr Moreton, a prisoner at Perth, and Ms Davie, of Glackburn Farm, originally stood trial on nine charges which also claimed the couple were growing cannabis at the property and resisted police arrest.

However, prosecutors withdrew the allegations and jurors were asked to return verdicts on claims that Mr Moreton pointed an air rifle at the police officers.

Jurors also considered a charge alleging that Mr Moreton possessed the air rifle illegally. They also considered a claim that Ms Davie prevented the officers from leaving the house.

During evidence, PC Gail Beattie, 48, told prosecution lawyer Alyson Forbes of how she thought she saw Mr Moreton point a weapon at her.

She said: “Mr Moreton was standing there with a rifle. He was pointing it towards me and Constable Smith.”

PC Gemma Smith told the court that Mr Moreton also produced a rifle. The court heard PC Smith say that Mr Moreton was standing in a cupboard at the time.

PC Smith also said that Ms Davie had locked her and PC Beattie inside their property.

Both Mr Moreton and Ms Davie said they acted legally at all times.

Jurors felt there was a reasonable doubt over claims made by prosecutors and decided to acquit the pair.

Mr Moreton was standing there with a rifle. He was pointing it towards me and Constable Smith. PC GAIL BEATTIE