Man in court over Milnathort war memorial theft
A man has appeared in court charged with stealing three bronze plaques from a war memorial.
Wayne Slaven, 43, denied taking the plaques from the Orwell War Memorial in Milnathort when he appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court.
Co-accused Joseph Millar, 41, was not present at court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
It is alleged the plaques - featuring names of the war dead - were stolen days after the memorial was unveiled.
Mr Slaven and Mr Millar, both from Kinross, are accused of stealing the plaques between 22 and 24 July.
Mr Slaven pled not guilty and was released on bail after trial was set for January of next year by Sheriff Kevin Veal.
The bronze plaques were created as part of a £13,000 restoration of the memorial and had been designed to be theft resistant.
It is alleged that they were stolen from the stone structure within hours of protective fencing being removed for its official unveiling last month.
A fourth plaque inscribed with a tribute to soldiers who died in both world wars was badly damaged.
Locals collected money and secured funding to have the Orwell War Memorial refurbished.