Man faces trial over alleged abductions and abuse at Wick homes

A house in Wick was cordoned off and a police firearms incident declared after George Harper is alleged to have embarked on a catalogue of abuse involving knives and ammonia.

Harper was subsequently charged with two counts of abduction, one of assault and a third charge of having behaved in a threatening or abusive manner, all on May 19, last year.

The abduction charges allege that the 43-year-old pulled the living room curtains at a property on Glamis Road, Wick, to stop anyone seeing, and prevented his victims leaving the property, and attempted to pour ammonia over them.

The first count on the indictment states that on May 19, last year, at the Glamis Road property, Harper took possession of a knife which he used to repeatedly strike James McPhee, hit him with an extension cable and attempted to pour ammonia over his eyes to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Harper is further accused of threatening or abusive behaviour, at a property on Leishman Avenue, Wick, refusing to leave it when requested by police officers, smashed a window and appeared to hold a shard close to his neck while consuming a quantity of unknown tablets.

The accused also faces a charge of possessing Diazepam, a Class C drug.

In the second abduction charge, Harper is alleged to have punched and slapped Robyn Miller, placed an extension cord around her neck and tightened it, restricting her breathing, repeatedly kicked her on the head and attempted to pour ammonia over her to her injury and danger of her life.

Harper, who denied all the charges at Wick Sheriff Court this week, was further remanded and will stand trial on March 3.