Man In Court Over Perthshire Holiday Park Drama

A 52-year-old man appeared in court in connection with the production of an explosive device which led to a holiday park being evacuated earlier this week. Mark Crockett is alleged to have produced an improvised explosive device - namely a nail bomb - with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. Crockett, Marshall Drive, California, Falkirk, is alleged to have made the "explosive substance" at Lyon Lodge in the Logierait holiday lodges complex near Pitlochry, Perthshire, on 4 February. It is alleged that he made a nail bomb "with intent by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property or enable any other person to do so." Crockett appeared briefly in private at Perth Sheriff Court to face a petition on which he is charged with a single offence under the 1883 Explosive Substances Act. He made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody while the case was continued for further examination by Sheriff Simon Collins. A major police operation led to the Logierait Pine Lodges holiday park being evacuated and shut down on Wednesday evening. Guests were evacuated to the nearby Red Brolly Inn overnight. Councillor Kate Howie, who lives nearby in Ballinluig, said: "This all was very unusual. These things just don't happen in Logierait. It's a holiday area."