Castle Huntly absconder Michael McInnes has sentence increased

A violent prisoner went on the run after becoming “bored and lonely” while on home leave.

Michael McInnes disappeared from his nominated address, swapping a rural caravan site in Dumfriess-shire for the clubs and pubs of Bellshill, Lanarkshire.

Rather than stay with his elderly mother, the 23-year-old flouted strict orders by enjoying drunken nights out with friends.

He then failed to make it to a rendezvous at Glasgow’s Buchanan Street bus station with G4S staff, who were due to take him back to Castle Huntly prison, near Longforgan where he is serving a six year sentence for attempted murder.

Officers from Police Scotland launched an extensive manhunt for McInnes, during which he hit the headlines for taunting them on a social networking site, posting photos of his illicit exploits.

He was apprehended 10 days later on December 14 and appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday, where he admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice and was jailed for four months.

For more on this story see Tuesday’s Courier or try our digital edition.