Man charged with sending abusive messages to former Aberdeen MP on Facebook

A man has been charged with repeatedly posting abusive and threatening Facebook comments about former Conservative MP Ross Thomson.

Reece Cuthbert, of Haddington Avenue in Dundee, is accused of sending indecent communications to Mr Thomson while he was a serving member of parliament.

The former Aberdeen South politician stood down in November over accusations that he sexually assaulted a Labour MP in a Westminster bar.

Mr Thomson denies any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors allege that he used Facebook to send messages that were “grossly offensive or of indecent, obscene or menacing character” on July 13 last year.

Thereafter, on October 7, Cuthbert is accused of providing false information to police officers in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

The accused entered a not guilty plea to the first charge.

However, he has requested a debate on the second charge at a pre-trial hearing. Cuthbert will stand trial on September 2.