Tayside Police: Dalcrue couple could have been wrong target for torture

Nov 20 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTH police tracking three dangerous masked raiders who subjected a couple to a terrifying ordeal in their own home are following a number of leads.

And one theory detectives are pursuing is that it was a botched raid – and the wrong victims were targeted and tortured.

Scrap dealer Gordon Barnes (57) and his partner Annabell Hutchison, a 58-year-old grandmother, were being comforted yesterday by relatives after the trauma of a midweek raid on their home at isolated Dalcrue, near Pitcairngreen.

Three men wearing balaclavas subjected the couple to a callous and sustained assault around 8.45pm on Tuesday.

At one stage, a fearful and hooded Mr Barnes was flung down an embankment into the nearby River Almond after being assaulted and threatened at knifepoint.

Ms Hutchison, who is believed to be recovering from a heart attack earlier in the year, was also tied-up at their property within the Dalcrue Auto Salvage compound.

The raiders demanded cash but may have been operating under the misapprehension the couple were the owners of the yard. The victims managed to free themselves when the trio fled in the couple’s Honda Accord, which was abandoned nearby.

The inquiry is being spearheaded by Detective Chief Inspector Greig Steele and in appealing for information he stressed: “This was an absolutely horrific attack on a couple under their own roof. Someone will know the identity of these three people and they may have been spotted in the area in the days before Tuesday’s attack.”

“It’s possible this could have been a case of mistaken identity and it didn’t go to plan. But they didn’t just leave. The ordeal last for more than an hour.

“Although the couple did not suffer serious injuries they were subjected to a sustained assault and have been left severely traumatised by the experience.

“The female suffers from a medical condition. One of the raiders showed an element of compassion by administering medicine to her.

“The man was bound up and dragged from the house with a bag over his head before being thrown into an ice cold river.

“They hauled him from the water and brought him back into the house.

“Fortunately, it’s unusual for an incident like this to happen locally, with masked raiders bursting into a couple’s home.”

Police officers were at the cordoned-off property yesterday assessing if anything had been stolen.

The assailants were all wearing dark coloured clothing and balaclavas. Two of the men are described as being of slim build and the third is larger in size. All three spoke with Scottish accents.

Anyone who has information which may assist detectives with their enquiries or anyone who was in the Dalcrue area on Tuesday evening should get in touch with Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222 or speak to any police officer.

Information can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.