Lawyer denies attack on pregnant ex-partner

ONE of Scotland’s leading criminal defence advocates has been accused of repeatedly kicking a child and attacking a pregnant woman in separate incidents.

William Adam, 57, appeared in the dock at Perth Sheriff Court and denied attacking an eightyear-old boy by kicking him a number of times.

Adam, who has also worked for the Crown as a procurator fiscal depute prosecuting criminal cases, also denied assaulting a pregnant woman.

He initially appeared before Sheriff Christopher Shead, but the sheriff told the court he knew who the accused was and he asked to be recused from hearing the case because of a potential conflict of interest.

Adam – paid £77,000 by the Scottish Legal Aid Board during 2016-17 to defend criminal cases – had to return to court later.

The case was then heard by Sheriff William Wood and Adam, from Forfar, pled not guilty to four charges.

He denied that on various occasions between 1 June 2013 and 12 October 2014 he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing and being aggressive towards former partner Janka Janackova.

He denied that between 11 and 12 October 2014 he assaulted her while she was pregnant by repeatedly pushing a door against her body.

Adam denied that between 25 and 26 November 2014 he attacked an eight-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, by repeatedly kicking him.

Adam was granted bail until his trial in May.