Lawyer charged with damaging cars

Aberdeen lawyer Paul Hutcheson appeared at Perth sheriff court

A senior Aberdeenshire lawyer has appeared in court charged with damaging 11 cars following a party at a golf club in Perthshire.

Paul Hutcheson tore windscreen wipers from parked cars, causing nearly £1,000 of damage on his way home from his mother's 80th birthday celebrations.

He claimed he had been drinking and had little memory of the incident.

The 43-year-old from Bieldside, Aberdeen, admitted the charges and sentence was deferred for four months.

The court heard that Hutcheson had gone to a house party after his mother's birthday celebrations and had been drinking until 0245GMT on the night of 20 May 2007.

'Out of character'

He then walked home through an upmarket housing estate and ripped windscreen wipers from a number of cars including one belonging to Montrose FC manager and ex-St Johnstone player Jim Weir.

When apprehended by one resident, Hutcheson, a senior partner at legal firm Aberdein Considine's Inverurie office, apologised and offered him his bank card by way of payment. The police were then called.

Solicitor Iain Smith, defending, said: "This matter is totally out of character. He is very remorseful.

A spokesman for Hutcheson's employers said the incident was a result of momentary madness and insisted the company would continue to support Mr Hutcheson as a valued partner.

He added: "Paul has an unblemished record in his 20 years with this firm and is highly thought of by us and by his many clients."