Third accused on abduction and extortion charges for Dalcrue incident

Feb 5 2010

A 49-YEAR-OLD man made a second appearance in private at the Sheriff Court this week, charged with terrorising a couple at a scrap yard near Perth.

Brian Blair, of Fingal Street, Glasgow, made no application for bail and he was fully committed for trial.

Blair and two others are alleged to have abducted Annabelle Hutchison (58) and detained her against her will at Pitcairngreen’s Dalcrue Auto Salvage on November 17 last year.

They are also said to have brandished a hammer and axe at her and partner Gordon Barnes (57), then placed a bag over his head and threatened to drown him.

The two other accused are Blair’s brother, Thomas (46), of Wyndford Road, Maryhill, Glasgow, and Isaac McPhee (42), of Sauchie Place, Crieff.

It is alleged that the three abducted Ms Hutchison and tied her wrists and ankles together before demanding she reveal the whereabouts of cash.

The trio are then said to have threatened her and Mr Barnes with further violence if they refused to hand over cash.

The charge alleges that she was dragged along the floor before they left her confined in the cabin, all in a bid to extort money.

The three accused are also alleged to have forcibly tied Mr Barnes’ wrists and ankles together, put a polythene bag over his head and demanded cash.

They are said to have placed a knife against his neck and threatened to kill him, and to torture Ms Hutchison.

The three are also accused of stealing a mobile phones, an iPod and earphones.