Man goes on trial accused of Gleneagles Hotel robbery

A man accused of taking part in an armed robbery at Gleneagles Hotel has claimed he was in Glasgow at the time.

42-year-old Richard Fleming has denied a string of offences linked to the raid on the Perthshire hotel on June 27 last year.

It is alleged that while acting with others with his face masked and in possession of hammers, a machete and a self-loading pistol he assaulted staff working at the premises near Auchterarder.

Fleming is further accused of while acting with others and with his face masked and in possession of the items entering the Mappin and Webb boutique at the hotel, smashing display cabinets and robbing them of a quantity of watches.

Fleming is also alleged to have attempted to pervert the course of justice on June 27 and 28 last year at the hotel, at Gleneagles train station, addresses in Glasgow and elsewhere in Glasgow, Perthshire and London.

It is alleged that while acting with others an Audi Avant A4 car was driven at excessive speed from the hotel, failing to stop at a junction causing another vehicle to brake sharply to avoid a collision.

It is further alleged that a Range Rover Evoque was driven from Gleneagles train station to Glasgow and taxis were taken to the city's Central station before heading for London.

It is alleged that the Evoque was set on fire at St Peter's Cemetery, London Road, in Glasgow, by another or others unknown to the prosecutor.

Fleming faces further charges alleging that while acting with others he was involved in the reset of the Audi and Range Rover cars.

He is also accused of while acting with another of breaking into houses in Buchanan Gardens and Middleshade Road, both St Andrews, in Fife, on June 12 last year and stealing jewellery, a driving licence and money from the first property and a Louis Vuitton scarf and box, a Hermes scarf, sunglasses, jewellery and Louis Vuitton bags from the latter.

Fleming has lodged a special defence of alibi maintaining that at the time of the hotel robbery he was in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

The judge, Lady Carmichael, said to jurors: "I am told the trial is likely to take something in the region of three weeks."

The trial continues.