A convener of the Perth Show has appeared in court accused of a catalogue of sexual and violent offences against women over nearly 20 years.
James McOuat, the agricultural show’s Trade Stands convener, faces a total of 25 charges including abduction and sexual assault.
The 44-year-old from Glencarse is alleged to have sexually attacked one woman.
He is alleged to have pressed a pillow over a woman’s face, as well as pulling a knife on her and threatening to kill her.
McOuat is also alleged to have pulled a gun on a teenage girl and her mother, as well as assaulting another woman by biting her.
He appeared in the dock yesterday on an indictment listing 25 charges involving three females between October 22 1997 and March 31 2014.
McOuat denies the charges against him and a jury trial is scheduled to take place at Perth Sheriff Court this year.
Sheriff Pino di Emidio yesterday agreed to delay proceedings to allow McOuat to instruct counsel and the first diet was continued until September 25.
The sheriff said: “We are talking about a very significant number of occasions over a 20-year period.”
McOuat faces several charges of assaulting the first woman, which include hitting her with car keys, a chair, a fork, a jug and a towel to her injury.
He is alleged to have abducted her in Glencarse and later knocked her down and repeatedly kicked her while she was pregnant.
It is also alleged to have restricted her breathing by holding a pillow over her face as well as pulling a knife on her and telling her he would kill her.
It is further alleged that he held the teenage girl’s finger against a hot surface and pelted her with plastic objects, as well as presenting a gun at her.
It is also alleged that he indecently assaulted the first woman in 2002.
McOuat faces several charges relating to the second woman between 2006 and 2014 including striking her on the body with a belt and hurling a plate of foodstuffs at her.
He is alleged to have pelted her with household objects.
It is further alleged he attacked her with a food mixer, wrapped a Hoover cord round her arm, kicked her on the body and hurled catalogues at her. He is alleged to have abducted and detained her at the farmhouse against her will.
Solicitor Rosemary Scott, defending, said the accused’s team required more time to prepare their case and no objection was made by the Crown.
