Man is accused of Winifred mugging

Jun 19 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A 37-YEAR-OLD Perth man has appeared in private at the Sheriff Court, charged with mugging an elderly pensioner near her home in the Hillyland district of the city.

Paul John Nicol, of Rannoch Road, also faced two other charges of assaulting and robbing female OAPs in North Muirton.

Nicol made no plea and his case was continued for further inquiries. He was remanded in custody meantime.

He is alleged to have scarred 81-year-old Winifred Pearson for life after striking her on the head and body and knocking her to the ground in Primrose Crescent on April 19.

It is alleged that he then grabbed her handbag from her, to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement and to the danger of her life.

Nicol is accused of robbing her of a handbag containing a purse, a Tesco Clubcard, a Bon Marche card and approximately £30 in cash.

The pensioner suffered a fractured hip and arm and underwent two operations at Perth Royal Infirmary, spending time in its intensive care unit.

The alleged attack shocked local residents and an anonymous businessman boosted a reward, initially put up by members of Tulloch Institute, for information leading to an arrest.

Nicol also faced an additional charge of assaulting and robbing a 73-year-old woman in Uist Place, Perth, on June 11 by knocking her to the ground and grabbing her handbag from her, to her injury.

He is alleged to have robbed her of the bag which contained miscellaneous papers, a scarf, a pair of tights, a bus pass, £5, a set of keys and a pair of spectacles.

A third charge alleges that on April 4, in Argyll Road, Perth, he assaulted a 62-year-old woman by grabbing the strap of her handbag, repeatedly pulling it and knocking her to the ground, to her injury. It is further alleged that he robbed her of £40.

Additional charges allege that the accused stole a pair of boots and a zip-up top from a house in Goodlyburn Terrace, Perth, between April 1 and June 14 and stealing £28 from a house in Balhousie Street, Perth, on April 28.