A former Angus man is to stand trial accused over a £117,000 extortion plot — allegedly scamming cash to keep “private information” quiet.
Bradley Long faces a string of allegations on indictment at Forfar Sheriff Court over an alleged four-year scheme.
But he did not appear in court on Wednesday as his wife had fallen ill.
He is accused of extorting £81,306.01 from a man between May 2011 and June 2014 — then attempting to extort a further £36,500 from him between October 2014 and March 2015.
Prosecutors allege he threatened the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, with violence and damage to his property.
It is claimed that Long threatened the man that he would “reveal private information to his family” in the attempt to extort the further £36,500.
Long is also accused of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards the man on a date in March last year, being in possession of cannabis when he was detained by police and being concerned in the supply of cocaine between May 2011 and March 9 last year.
A further charge alleges that he failed to appear in court at a prior hearing of the case in February.
Long, 30, formerly of Arbroath and now of Eastbourne, Sussex, was not present at the pre-trial hearing over the charges.
Defence advocate Jonathan Crowe said Long could not make the journey because his partner had fallen seriously ill on Monday and he had to look after their two children.
Sheriff Pino di Emidio set a further hearing on June 15 and ordered Long to appear on that date.