THE Greenock jury trial of an armed robbery accused man has had to be delayed because key evidence in the case has been lost by police, the sheriff court has been told.

Finlay McIntyre is charged with raiding a convenience store with his face masked and threatening a shop worker with violence.

During the latest calling of the two-year-old case, defence solicitor Ellen Macdonald explained that there were serious issues with regard to evidence.

Ms Macdonald said that the trial had been pushed back due to a 'huge delay caused by the inability of police officers to find productions to be analysed'.

It is alleged that McIntyre, 56, brandished scissors at the store staff member and demanded money during an incident on January 17, 2021.

Prosecutors say he committed the alleged assault and robbery whilst in possession of a metal bar or similar item and that he robbed the man of cash at the Co-op store at Shore Street in Wemyss Bay.

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Lawyer Ms Macdonald told the court: "A label for his [McIntyre's] DNA was inadvertently destroyed.

"Other samples have been sent for analysis.

"The estimated return of these is the last week in July and reports are to be returned the first week in August."

McIntyre, of Aitken Street in Largs, who previously lodged a special defence of alibi has maintained pleas of not guilty to the indictment charges

Sheriff James Mulgrew continued the case to trial on August 21.