Prisoner escapes
It has been revealed that a violent criminal has gone on the run after absconding from Castle Huntly open jail near Dundee.
The 38-year-old con faces criminal injury claims as he was jailed for serious assault and drug offences.
He was last seen in the Westercraigs area of Glasgow at 1000 BST on Tuesday because he was on home leave in Glasgow. However, he failed to return to prison the next day.
The man was given a 12-year extended sentence at Glasgow Sheriff Court in April 2001. He was convicted of assault to severe personal injury and permanent disfigurement.
The offender was released in October 2005 before being recalled less than a year later for breaching his licence conditions.
He later appeared in court again in January 2007 where he was sentenced to three months for drug offences.
The criminal is described as being 5ft 8in tall with black hair and is of a slim build. He has brown eyes and was clean shaven when last seen. Tayside Police appealed for anyone with information about his whereabouts to get in touch.
A Tayside Police spokesman said: “Anyone who has seen [him] or anyone who knows his current whereabouts, should get in touch with Tayside Police.”
Prison security
Despite one current escapee from the jail, and a history of two other prisoners escaping in January 2010 and May 2009, the prison staff have assured the public that security is of a high standard at the prison.
A Government spokeswoman said regulations had been tightened. She commented: “The process for transferring prisoners to open conditions was tightened significantly as a result of the measures the Justice Secretary instigated.
“We have seen a substantial reduction in the number of absconds from the Open Estate, from 98 in 1996/97 and 79 in 2006/07 to 10 in 2009/10 - a record low figure.The priority in this case is returning the prisoner to custody.”
The figures were reiterated by the Scottish Prison Service. A spokesman added: “The Scottish Prison Service is operating its strictest-ever criteria for prisoners to progress to the Open Estate, and as a result absconds are at their lowest ever level.
“Prisoners are held in open conditions to test their acceptance of responsibility and to assist the Parole Board in its considerations.
“One abscond is an abscond too many and abscondees will be returned to a closed prison with the presumption that they will not be able to access open conditions.”Updated on 4/13/2010