A Perthshire man has been found guilty after trial of assaulting a man in a remote, wooded area, after planning an “elaborate” plot to lure him there using his ex-girlfriend as bait.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how Marc Assenti (21), of High Street, Blairgowrie, had a sexual relationship with Miss Jade Low (18), c/o Tayside Police, despite them officially splitting up in March 2010.
Assenti had heard that Mark Richie (20), c/o Tayside Police, had “grassed him up” for doing illegal car manoeuvres. The court heard how the accused and Miss Low then devised a plan to lure the unsuspecting Mr Richie to the Den in Alyth with the sole intention of Assenti assaulting him.
Assenti was found guilty after trial that on October 2, last year, at the Den of Alyth car park, he assaulted Mr Richie by dragging him from a car, throwing him to the ground and repeatedly kicking him on body to his injury. He had denied the charge.
Mr Richie told depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston that he knew Miss Low as a friend and received a text message from her on October 2, 2010, suggesting they meet up for a chat.
He said that he wanted to meet in the Tesco car park in Blairgowrie but Miss Low suggested the Den of Alyth car-park at about 11.30pm.
“I thought it was a bit strange but never thought anything about it,” he said.
Mr Richie told the court how the pair met up at the gates of the car-park and proceeded to chat in his car where she asked him to put his car lights off and unbuckle his seatbelt. He then said he became aware of a noise outside and asked Miss Low if she had heard it.
“She said she hadn’t,” he added. “Then my car door opened and I was getting strangled. Someone had their arms around me it was really tight.
“I held on to the steering wheel to try to prevent myself being pulled out but it didn’t work.”
Mr Richie said he fell to the ground when pulled out of the car and was then kicked on the body and on the head.
He said he was “dazed” after the assault and had bruised ribs and a gash to his inner right ear.Familiar voiceMr Richie said he recognised it was Assenti by his voice, what he had said and his build as he left after the assault.
Miss Low said that she had previously fallen out with the accused in March 2010 but they still saw each other on and off when they had a sexual relationship. She told Ms Kynaston that she and the accused planned to lure Mr Richie to remote car park.
“I saw Marc Assenti drag Mark Richie out of the car and assault him, then I ran off,” she said. “We chose this car park as it was quiet.”
Solicitor Mike Tavendale, appearing for Assenti, said that this was an “elaborate” plan that was an “incredulous tale.” Assenti then told the court that he had been phoned by Miss Low around 11.30pm when he was driving through Meigle.
“I stopped my car and she (Miss Low) was hysterical in a right state,” he said. “I told her I would come and pick her up.”
Assenti denied the assault and said he had been out for a drive that night. However, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis found Assenti guilty.
“Miss Low had been the bait in this matter,” he said.
“It’s known that Mr Richie fancied Miss Low and she suggested a place to meet up a place where at that time of night in October you would not expect anyone else to be there.
“I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that you (Assenti) assaulted Mr Richie.”
Sentence was deferred until August 17 for background reports.