A pair of teenagers have been charged with targeting almost 40 vehicles in an Angus town vandalism spree.
The boys, aged 16 and 17, are alleged to have damaged the vehicles in several Montrose streets during last year’s festive season by striking them with knives and kicking and climbing on them.
They cannot be named for legal reasons because of their age, and did not appear when the case called at Forfar sheriff court before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown.
Trial has been set for the 17-year-old, who now lives in Arbroath, while the case of his alleged 16-year-old accomplice, from the Montrose area, was continued without plea.
The pair’s are said to have gone on a wrecking spree between December 15 and 29 last year at Bents Road, New Wynd, Museum Street, Caledonian Place, Baltic Street, Erskine Street, Panmure Place, Ferry Street, Provost Reids Road and Russell Street in Montrose.
The charge states they acted with others to maliciously damaged the vehicles by striking them with knives and kicking and climbing on them.
It includes an allegation they struck the window of a property at Caledonian Place with a brick or similar item and caused damage to the doors of a garden fence at Panmure Place.
Between the same dates both accused are also charged, again while acting with other, with having knives in a public place on contravention of Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Scotland) Act 1995.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski intimated a not guilty plea on behalf of the 17-year-old accused.
He said: “In relation to charge one, it is not disputed that the vehicles were damaged. It is the identity of the perpetrator that is in dispute.”
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond sought a continuation without plea in the case of the 16-year-old accused for personal service of the complaint to be executed.
The matter will recall at Forfar sheriff court in mid-November, with a trial date set in early December in respect of the older accused.
Police scoured CCTV in the inquiry which was mounted following a spate of vandalisms in the town.
They subsequently said four youths – including two 13-year-old boys – has been charged in relation to the incidents and would be the subject of reports to either the Procurator Fiscal or Youth Justice Assessor.
