Just so we’re clear: None of these are April Fools.
Breeding farm trial
A new trial date has been set for a businessman charged with neglecting dozens of animals at an alleged dog breeding farm in Perthshire.
Daanyall Chowdhury, who runs a security firm in Manchester, is accused of failing to get proper treatment for dogs and cats at South Cairnies Farm Cottage, near Glenalmond and causing them psychological distress and unnecessary suffering.
The 29-year-old appeared at Perth Sheriff Court last year denied all charges.
The case called again at the same court this week.
Sheriff Francis Gill was told documents and reports held by the crown had still to be fully assessed by Chowdhury’s defence team.
The sheriff agreed to adjourn the trial until September 20. An intermediate hearing will be held on September 1.
Chowdhury, of Meldon Road, Manchester, did not appear at this week’s hearing.
Rangers star victim of carjacking bid
Former Rangers and Scotland star Gordon Durie was threatened at knife-point during a terrifying carjacking attempt in Fife.
The 56-year-old ran, shouting for help, as he was pursued by a masked man demanding his car keys who was shouting: “Don’t be a f****** hero”.
Violent criminal John Rodden, just out of jail, was pointing a kitchen knife with a six-inch blade at the shocked driver during the botched robbery.
Durie ran from his car leaving the keys on the passenger seat but Rodden did not see them and chased after the ex-footballer still demanding the keys.
The victim managed to get away and Rodden, still not spotting the keys in the car, left empty-handed.
Domestic abuse trial: Not proven
A Forfar man has been cleared of throttling his wife on an “almost daily basis”.
Graham Massie went on trial at Perth Sheriff Court, accused of a series of assaults spanning more than 20 years.
It was alleged he attacked his partner at properties in Kirriemuir and Forfar.
But after a week-long trial, a jury found eight of the nine charges against him not proven.
He was convicted of a reduced charge of engaging in a course of behaviour that was abusive to his then partner, between June 14 an July 9 2019.
Massie, 46, of Esk Cottage, threatened to kill himself and held a knife against his own throat in the presence of his wife.
He also acted aggressively, shouted and repeatedly struck a door with his head.
He will return to court for sentencing on May 11.
Assault before trial
A 28-year-old man assaulted two men at a Dunfermline shopping centre the day before he was due to stand trial in front of a jury.
Connar Bates, of the town’s Henryson Road, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court from custody and admitted two charges of kicking one man to the body and striking the other on the head at the Kingsgate on March 28.
Following a subsequent jury trial this week, Bates was found guilty of breaching a bail condition not to approach a former partner in Cowdenbeath.
Two other allegations of assault against the woman were found not proven by a jury.
Sentencing has been adjourned until April 27 for the production of background reports.
Sex act care worker struck off
A support worker who was twice caught performing a solo sex act outside Amazon’s Fife warehouse has been banned from working in the care industry.
Neil Cowan was placed on the Sex Offender’s Register last year after he admitted pleasuring himself outside the Dunfermline retail complex in the early hours.
The 33-year-old initially told police his trousers were loose and had slipped down.
Now care home worker Cowan has been struck off after the Scottish Social Services Council found that his fitness to practice was impaired.
In its published findings, the watchdog states: “The convictions are of an extremely serious nature.
“They involve criminal behaviour which demonstrates a marked and wilful disregard for the safety and wellbeing of others.”
The full caseload of the Dundee Crime and Courts Team can be found here.
