A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Ian Appleby and Elizabeth Howe following a long-running dispute with Network Rail over access to their home at Altnabreac station in Caithness. The couple, aged 48 and 49, are facing a contempt charge after allegedly secretly recording civil court proceedings.

Appleby and Howe had previously pursued a civil action against Network Rail, which was dismissed in June after they failed to appear when the case was called. The pair were also absent when a motion to have the case re-activated was rejected by Sheriff Sara Matheson on Tuesday. In light of their non-attendance, the sheriff granted police a warrant for their arrest in relation to the contempt complaint.

Earlier the same day, Appleby and Howe appeared in the dock at Wick Sheriff Court for a scheduled trial concerning two criminal charges. The pair deny standing on the railway tracks in March 2024 in the path of oncoming trains, allegedly putting themselves, passengers, and railway staff at risk of serious injury or death. Prosecutors claim the couple demonstrated “utter disregard for the consequences” when crossing barriers onto the level crossing while trains were approaching.

The defendants also deny accusations of shouting, swearing, and making abusive comments at two police officers while resisting their attempts to manage the situation. Fiscal Shamielah Ghafar requested an adjournment of the trial due to outstanding material that needs to be disclosed to the defence, a request which Appleby and Howe, who represent themselves, did not contest.

During proceedings, Howe, a former detective from Stockport, inquired whether the trial would be officially recorded. The next steps in the case will be determined once the outstanding material has been reviewed and disclosed to the defence.

Image: ScotRail