Third man appears on abduction and extortion charges

Jan 29 2010 by Alison Lowson, Strathearn Herald

A THIRD man made a brief appearance in private at Perth Sheriff Court on Tuesday in connection with abduction and extortion charges.

A warrant had been issued last week for the arrest of Brian Blair (49), of Fingal Street, Glasgow, after he failed to appear along with two other men last week. Blair made no plea and his case was continued for further inquiries. No application was made for bail and he was remanded in custody.

Blair and the two others are accused of subjecting a couple to a terrifying ordeal in a bid to get them to hand over cash at a remote salvage yard near Perth.

They are alleged to have abducted 58-year-old Annabelle Hutchison and detained her against her will at Dalcrue Auto Salvage, in Pitcairngreen, 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 polythene bag over his head and threatened to drown him.

The two other accused, his brother, Thomas Blair (46), of Wyndford Road, Maryhill, Glasgow, and 42-year-old Isaac McPhee, of Sauchie Place, Crieff, were both fully committed for trial on Monday and remanded in custody.

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

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 pulled from a seat and was forcibly dragged along the floor before they left her confined in the cabin, all in a bid to extort money from her.

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

They are said to have placed a knife against his neck, threatened to kill him, and said that Ms Hutchison would be tortured if the money wasn’t handed over.

It is then alleged that they struck him on the head, dragged him outside to a river bank and threatened to drown him.

They then allegedly pulled him down the river bank and dumped him in the river before carrying him by his bindings back into the cabin, all to extort money from him.

The three are also accused of driving off in a Honda Accord after stealing a mobile phone, iPod, a set of earphones and a phone.

McPhee also faced a charge of extorting 18,000 from Thomas Allan Lawson at a house in Main Street, Methven, between October 28 and December 23 last year.

It is alleged he put the man in a state of alarm and apprehension that he and members of his family would be subjected to violence.

McPhee is also accused of being concerned in the supply of heroin at addresses in Tulloch Place and Primrose Crescent, Perth, and concerned in the supply of diazepam at houses in Perth and Methven.