Former Rangers owner Craig Whyte received abuse as he attended - TopicsExpress

Former Rangers owner Craig Whyte received abuse as he attended court for the trial of his former employees accused of stealing from him.He was heckled as he arrived at 9.40am to give evidence at Inverness Sheriff Court on Thursday as a witness in the case of his former castle caretaker and housekeeper.Terence Horan, 53, and 50-year-old Jane Hagan, who both now live in Bicester, are accused of stealing more than 30 items from Mr Whyte’s Castle Grant home in Grantown on Spey.The trial had not begun by lunchtime and when he returned with his lawyer Paul Kavanagh, he was subjected to more abuse and threats as he entered the main court building of Inverness Castle.There were a number of shouts made towards him, while one fan who was waiting for his trial also, shouted at him: “I will burst your face.”On his arrival, one man shouted at Mr Whyte: “Hey, you scumbag, what have you done with our money? Did our money pay for that suit?”When the trial commenced, fiscal depute Heather Swan told Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist QC that she would probably only be able to call a few of the 12 prosecution witnesses before having to adjourn. Mr Whyte and his estranged wife Kim, as well as six other witnesses, were excused.The court was told that Horan had rented a storage container in Grantown on Spey and had moved a substantial number of items, including those allegedly stolen, into it. He began renting the £80 a month facility two years ago and is still renting it.Police raided it on September 19 last year after securing a search warrant following Mr Whyte’s complaint of a theft from Castle Grant where he and his wife, Kim, stayed with their two children.Detective Sergeant Derek MacGillivray told the court that he and two other officers gained access to the container before the Whytes identified items inside it that they claimed belong to them.Hagan and Horan again denied stealing a huge array of items from Castle Grant between June 1 and September 7, 2012 where they worked. Both are alleged to have stolen items including a quad bike, quantities of coins and Dutch guilders, a silver photograph frame, a hip flask and cups, three sets of cufflinks, a fuel card, a telescope and case.