A man has appeared in court accused of robbing a 54-year-old woman at knifepoint near a Perth primary school.
A major police investigation was launched at the weekend, following reports of an apparently random encounter in the city’s Letham area.
Police Scotland made an appeal for witnesses after a woman was approached by a hooded man on a footpath between Tweedsmuir Road and Struan Road, close to the entrance of Letham Primary.
It happened at around 8am on Saturday.
On Thursday, Kevin Dunbar appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court in connection with the incident.
The 34-year-old is accused of assaulting the woman to her injury, presenting a knife at her and robbing her of a handbag.
He made no plea during his brief, private appearance before Sheriff Gillian Wade.
Dunbar, whose address is listed as Perth, was committed for further examination and released on bail.
A date for his next court appearance has still to be set.
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Investigators carried out a series of door-to-door inquiries over the weekend, and appealed for CCTV from nearby businesses and private homes.
Detective Sergeant Ryan Thompson, who led the investigation, said the alleged victim was left shaken, but was not seriously hurt.
Residents spoke of their shock at seeing a large police presence near their homes on Saturday morning.
One local said: “It’s usually a very peaceful neighbourhood, we don’t get a lot of trouble around here.
“It was a real surprise when I went out on Saturday and saw all these police milling around.”
The footpath, which cuts through Brahan Terrace, is a well used shortcut for locals and school pupils, and offers a direct link between the school and the community’s recreation centre.
The night before the alleged robbery, some residents reported being “intimidated” by young men asking for money at nearby shops.
It is second incident involving an alleged knifepoint robbery in Perth in the last few days.
On Monday, two men appeared on petition at Perth Sheriff Court in connection with a separate assault and robbery at the city’s North Methven Street on Thursday October 24.
Drew Anderson, 20, and Aaron McMillan, 29, made no plea and were remanded in custody.
