A man has been bailed ahead of a trial for alleged domestic offences after his lawyer asked for leniency so he could phone his mum during the coronavirus pandemic.
David Lawrie, of King Street, is facing allegations that he assaulted his ex-partner on two separate occasions at a property on the road last year.
The 44-year-old, who had been on remand at HMP Perth, is alleged to have pushed his ex on the body, seized her by the same, pursued her, grabbed her mobile phone from her as she tried to call 999 and repeatedly struck her on the head and body to her injury.
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He is also alleged to have stolen her mobile phone along with her handbag and its contents in what prosecutors say was a domestically aggravated assault on September 1.
Lawrie is accused of carrying out another attack on November 28, repeatedly biting his ex-partner on the body and pursuing her, before punching her on the head, pushing her on the body, struggling with her and robbing her of her mobile phone, all while on bail.
He denies the charges and is set to stand trial on July 21.
Prosecutors moved to oppose bail but solicitor Katrina Clark, acting for Lawrie, appealed to Sheriff Lorna Drummond to give him his freedom until trial so he could keep in touch with his mum during the pandemic.
She said: “Mr Lawrie has been on remand since November 29. If he is to remain in custody until July then he will have served the equivalent of a 16-month sentence in relation to this matter.
“He has three teenage children with his ex-wife and his mother has not been keeping in good health.
“She in the vulnerable category as far as the outbreak of COVID-19 is concerned.
“He is very keen that he is allowed his liberty to be free to call her by telephone on a daily basis.
“Visits to prisons have been suspended so he is not likely to see his mother if my Lady is to keep him in custody.
“On the whole…it would not be fair to remand him further into July. He would be prepared to accept any conditions of bail my Lady would be minded and prepared to grant.”
Sheriff Drummond agreed to grant bail on the condition Lawrie does not approach or contact his ex-partner.
“I have listened to the application made for bail, which has been opposed by the Crown.
“I need to be satisfied that there were exceptional circumstances justifying the release on bail – there are unusual circumstances right now.
“We are in a state of public health emergency and I am satisfied on balance that i can grant you bail today because of the length of time before this case calls back in court and the time you’ve been on remand.”
She warned: “You really must comply with (the bail conditions).”
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