A Perth man accused of causing a disturbance at a city tower block told a court he has no memory of the alleged incident.
Mark Clephane is on trial accused of threatening or abusive behaviour at the Pomarium Street flats in the early hours of April 9, 2020.
It is alleged the 31-year-old shouted, swore and made “disablist” remarks towards an officer.
He is further accused of restricting, obstructing or hindering police by barricading the entrance to his flat and an internal door with furniture in an attempt to prevent them getting inside.
Clephane also faces allegations he failed to comply with a breath test, after police suspected he was driving a Vauxhall Vectra after taking drink or drugs, and failing to provide specimens of breath.
He faces a further charge of possession of cannabis.
Clephane denies all charges at Perth Sheriff Court.
Perth man barricaded himself in flat and made ‘disablist’ comments to police
His solicitor David Holmes has lodged a special defence, claiming his client was suffering mental illness at the time.
On the second day of the trial – which began in April – former labourer Clephane was asked by fiscal depute Andrew Harding about a police presence at his flat in 2020.
Clephane said “it was all a blur” and said he had no recollection of events.
He agreed that there may have been cannabis in his flat at the time.
And he said he could not dispute evidence of police officers.
Clephane told Mr Holmes that he had been receiving mental health treatment around that time.
He said he was “struggling” at the beginning of lockdown.
The trial, before Sheriff Francis Gill, was adjourned until July 11.
Attempted murder
Dundee construction worker Dale Munro was jailed for six and half years for attempted murder. The 35-year-old drug addict repeatedly stabbed his victim in a flat in Dunholm Terrace in February 2020.
Takeaway robbery
A Dundee man has been locked up after he pushed a 15-year-old boy who was manning the till in a Lochee Chinese takeaway and helped himself to cash from it.
Kenneth Fraser was brought from HMP Perth to Dundee Sheriff Court to admit the assault and robbery.
Fraser entered The New Crown chip shop and takeaway on Lochee High Street at around 8.40pm on December 12.
The 36-year-old was with another man when he approached the till, which was being operated by a schoolboy staff member.
Both men indicated that they wanted to order food so the boy would complete the transaction and open the till drawer.
When he did, Fraser, of Landsdowne Gardens, leaned over the counter and pushed the teenager back.
He reached into the till drawer, grabbed a handful of notes and both men fled.
They were identified on the shop’s CCTV footage.
Sheriff Paul Brown deferred sentencing until July 4 for reports to be compiled.
Domestic abuse firefighter
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Tayport firefighter Chris Vesey faces “severe ramifications” after being found guilty of viciously assaulting his ex-partner. The 31-year-old will be sentenced next month.
Drug-driver
A drug-driver who was caught behind the wheel while three-and-a-half times the legal limit has been fined and disqualified.
Lee Tough was pulled over by police on the A94 Coupar Angus to Perth road, near Balbeggie.
Perth Sheriff Court heard officers detected a smell of cannabis from his red Audi A3.
Tough, of Easterbank, Forfar, admitted driving on February 28 2020, with seven mics of THC – the main pyschoactive compound of cannabis – in his system.
The legal limit is two mics.
If drugs are illegal, why are there legal limits for drug-driving?
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “He had smoked some cannabis earlier that evening and thought he was safe to drive.”
Sheriff Euan Duthie fined Tough £480 and banned him driving for a year.
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The full caseload of the Dundee Crime and Courts Team can be found here.
