An Angus jury took less than an hour to acquit two Perth men of abducting, robbing and assaulting a man in his rural home.
Peter Robert Selby and William Moore had been on trial at Forfar Sheriff Court on an indictment relating to an alleged incident in October.
The jury returned majority not proven verdicts against both Selby, 34, of Canal Street, Perth, and Moore, 33, described as a prisoner at Perth.
Both men had faced an indictment alleging that on October 22 at Cantsmill Farm Cottage, Airlie, they abducted Jonathon Gourley, demanded £1,500 from him, entered his home without consent, repeatedly threatened him with violence and threatened to stab him and made a threat to burn his house down.
The charge also alleged that they forced the complainer out of blood-stained clothing and made him drive to the Clydesdale Bank in Forfar before standing over him while he withdrew £1,500, detained him against his will and then assaulted him to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and the danger of his life by repeatedly punching him.
The trial had heard evidence from flooring company owner Mr Selby that he had done a “lot of work” on Mr Gourley’s house over a number of months but he had run out of money and been unable to pay.
Following a final bill in early October, which Mr Gourley did not pay but asked for two further weeks’ grace, Mr Selby said in evidence he had gone to the Airlie property when he was on a job nearby along with Mr Moore who had also recently become involved in the building trade.
Mr Selby had told the trial earlier: “There was no assault. There was no demand. He asked me for a receipt and I wrote him one.”
The Courier can reveal that Mr Gourley, 42, appeared in private at Forfar during the trial in connection with an alleged indictment offence involving possession of a blade in a public place.
The Crown Office has confirmed that Gourley made no plea or declaration to a charge under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995.
He was fully committed.
Gourley was released on bail and will reappear in court on a date yet to be confirmed.