A recent court session at Perth Sheriff Court saw an elderly individual from Coupar Angus facing charges following an alleged firearms incident. The case involves 79-year-old Jack Rylance, who stands accused of illegally possessing a firearm with the intent to incite fear or violence within the Church Place area of the town. Further allegations against Mr. Rylance include engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour and the reckless discharge of a firearm. During a brief, private hearing presided over by Sheriff Simon Collins KC, Mr. Rylance, whose address was given as Perth, did not enter a plea. He has since been released on bail, with a subsequent court date yet to be scheduled for the ongoing legal proceedings.
In other regional court developments, the callous actions of a thief who targeted a Dundee care home have come to light. Darren Mackie stands accused of illicitly entering the Forebank Care Home through a window, where he allegedly stole invaluable jewellery belonging to elderly residents. Shockingly, it was revealed in court that these precious stolen items were subsequently discarded into the River Tay. Mackie was reportedly discovered having fallen asleep outside the care home shortly after the break-in, leading to his apprehension.
A grave incident of sexual assault at a large outdoor music festival in Edinburgh has resulted in a man being incarcerated. James Leckie was found guilty of attacking and raping a terrified 16-year-old girl who had travelled from Dundee to attend the Fly dance music festival in Princes Street Gardens on September 16, 2023. The High Court in Edinburgh heard harrowing testimony detailing how Leckie allegedly grabbed the victim by her hair, struggled with her, and pursued her during the horrifying ordeal. The court was told that the teenager, having consumed alcohol with friends before encountering Leckie, then 25, was led to a secluded wooded area. Here, he is accused of removing her lower clothing and sexually assaulting her, leaving her in a state of ‘fight or flight mode’.
The victim recounted trying to flee in the darkness, clad only in her bikini top and one shoe, stumbling as she ran. Her assailant reportedly pursued her, catching her by a fence near a train track, where he renewed the assault. She described being ‘sobbing and crying’ and pleading with him to stop due to immense pain. Flashlights and security personnel eventually arrived, finding the distressed teenager. Leckie, a first offender from Ambassador Court, Musselburgh, had pleaded not guilty to assault and rape, claiming the encounter was consensual and that the girl appeared older than her stated age. However, a jury convicted him. He was also found guilty of threatening and abusive behaviour, including using homophobic remarks towards police officers. Leckie has been remanded in custody, placed on the sex offenders register, and awaits sentencing next month.
Closer to home, a dramatic midnight raid on a petrol station convenience store in Perth saw a topless intruder foiled by a sophisticated security system. Douglas Robertson, a known serial offender, was reportedly ‘smoked out’ of the Morrison’s garage shop after triggering its ‘smoke bandit’ security feature. Witnesses initially feared the building was ablaze due to the sheer volume of smoke billowing from the premises. The audacious break-in resulted in an estimated £6,000 worth of losses for the local business, encompassing both stolen goods and damages. Robertson was observed fleeing the scene, highlighting the swift and effective response of the security measures.
Finally, a Dundee man with a history of domestic abuse, Mark Glass, 31, has been imprisoned for a ‘deplorable’ six-month campaign of abuse against his former partner. The horrific extent of his actions was laid bare at Dundee Sheriff Court, including an incident where he wished death upon her just moments after she had given birth to their child. The court heard that Glass’s relationship with the victim deteriorated during her pregnancy. Upon being informed of the child’s rapid arrival, Glass allegedly responded with hateful messages, wishing her ‘the worst time’ and stating his hatred for her, culminating in a chilling message hoping she ‘f*****g died in that bed you bitch’.
His abusive behaviour persisted through calls and messages, oscillating between feigned apologies and menacing threats, including one instance where he hoped she would contract HIV. Ring doorbell footage captured him shouting outside her residence on separate occasions, and he later breached bail conditions by contacting her again while police were present in her living room. With five prior domestic abuse convictions on his record, Glass admitted to behaving abusively between January and July of this year. Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith condemned his actions, stating that his conduct from the moment of their child’s birth was ‘deplorable’ and caused the victim ‘significant psychological harm.’ Glass was sentenced to eight months in prison and issued a three-year non-harassment order, reinforcing the severe consequences for such behaviour within the community.
In other regional court developments, the callous actions of a thief who targeted a Dundee care home have come to light. Darren Mackie stands accused of illicitly entering the Forebank Care Home through a window, where he allegedly stole invaluable jewellery belonging to elderly residents. Shockingly, it was revealed in court that these precious stolen items were subsequently discarded into the River Tay. Mackie was reportedly discovered having fallen asleep outside the care home shortly after the break-in, leading to his apprehension.
A grave incident of sexual assault at a large outdoor music festival in Edinburgh has resulted in a man being incarcerated. James Leckie was found guilty of attacking and raping a terrified 16-year-old girl who had travelled from Dundee to attend the Fly dance music festival in Princes Street Gardens on September 16, 2023. The High Court in Edinburgh heard harrowing testimony detailing how Leckie allegedly grabbed the victim by her hair, struggled with her, and pursued her during the horrifying ordeal. The court was told that the teenager, having consumed alcohol with friends before encountering Leckie, then 25, was led to a secluded wooded area. Here, he is accused of removing her lower clothing and sexually assaulting her, leaving her in a state of ‘fight or flight mode’.
The victim recounted trying to flee in the darkness, clad only in her bikini top and one shoe, stumbling as she ran. Her assailant reportedly pursued her, catching her by a fence near a train track, where he renewed the assault. She described being ‘sobbing and crying’ and pleading with him to stop due to immense pain. Flashlights and security personnel eventually arrived, finding the distressed teenager. Leckie, a first offender from Ambassador Court, Musselburgh, had pleaded not guilty to assault and rape, claiming the encounter was consensual and that the girl appeared older than her stated age. However, a jury convicted him. He was also found guilty of threatening and abusive behaviour, including using homophobic remarks towards police officers. Leckie has been remanded in custody, placed on the sex offenders register, and awaits sentencing next month.
Closer to home, a dramatic midnight raid on a petrol station convenience store in Perth saw a topless intruder foiled by a sophisticated security system. Douglas Robertson, a known serial offender, was reportedly ‘smoked out’ of the Morrison’s garage shop after triggering its ‘smoke bandit’ security feature. Witnesses initially feared the building was ablaze due to the sheer volume of smoke billowing from the premises. The audacious break-in resulted in an estimated £6,000 worth of losses for the local business, encompassing both stolen goods and damages. Robertson was observed fleeing the scene, highlighting the swift and effective response of the security measures.
Finally, a Dundee man with a history of domestic abuse, Mark Glass, 31, has been imprisoned for a ‘deplorable’ six-month campaign of abuse against his former partner. The horrific extent of his actions was laid bare at Dundee Sheriff Court, including an incident where he wished death upon her just moments after she had given birth to their child. The court heard that Glass’s relationship with the victim deteriorated during her pregnancy. Upon being informed of the child’s rapid arrival, Glass allegedly responded with hateful messages, wishing her ‘the worst time’ and stating his hatred for her, culminating in a chilling message hoping she ‘f*****g died in that bed you bitch’.
His abusive behaviour persisted through calls and messages, oscillating between feigned apologies and menacing threats, including one instance where he hoped she would contract HIV. Ring doorbell footage captured him shouting outside her residence on separate occasions, and he later breached bail conditions by contacting her again while police were present in her living room. With five prior domestic abuse convictions on his record, Glass admitted to behaving abusively between January and July of this year. Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith condemned his actions, stating that his conduct from the moment of their child’s birth was ‘deplorable’ and caused the victim ‘significant psychological harm.’ Glass was sentenced to eight months in prison and issued a three-year non-harassment order, reinforcing the severe consequences for such behaviour within the community.