A violent inmate broke out from HMP Castle Huntly and made his way to maximum security Shotts Prison – because he “preferred the regime there”.
A solicitor for William Hunter said his client wasn’t coping with the “relaxed” environment at Tayside’s open prison.
The 43-year-old sparked a major police search when he escaped from Castle Huntly just after 9am on November 14 2020.
A dog walker called police when he spotted him running out of the jail while talking on a mobile phone.
Hunter, who was caged for attempted murder in 2000, appeared via video link at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted escaping from lawful custody and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
The seven-hour police search ended when officers in Perth received a call from HMP Shotts in Glasgow, saying Hunter had turned up and asked to be let in.
Spotted by dog walker
The court heard, at the time of his escape, Hunter was serving a four-year sentence for grievous bodily harm imposed at Canterbury Crown Court.
He was denied release in 2013 because of ongoing issues with violence and drugs.
Fiscal depute Michael Sweeney said: “On Tuesday November 10 2020, the accused was placed at Castle Huntly and resided in a room in the Murray House building.
“He was given a mobile phone with up to 20 contacts.
“At around 9am on November 14, a witness was walking his dog near to the Castle Huntly laundrette building.
“He observed the accused running past, towards the exit gate.
“The witness noted that the accused was not dressed in running gear and was out of breath and using a mobile phone.
“He suspected that he was a prisoner.”
Helicopter search
The fiscal said: “While walking home, he noticed that the prison gate was damaged.
“It had not been like that earlier.
“It was suspected that the accused had absconded by forcing himself through this gate.”
The dog walker rang police when he got home later that morning.
“CID officers were notified and contacted the prison,” said Mr Sweeney.
“Castle Huntly staff confirmed they had carried out an additional roll call and that the accused was missing.”
A police helicopter was scrambled, while officers and search dogs combed the area around the prison.
“The search resulted in a negative result,” said Mr Sweeney.
“At about 5pm, a security guard from Shotts Prison contacted CID’s Perth office and confirmed that the accused had presented at the prison.
“His identity was confirmed and he was processed and accepted into Shotts.”
‘Most comfortable’ at high-security jail
Solicitor Keith Tuck said: “The circumstances here are a little unusual.”
He told the court: “Within Shotts Prison, there are high levels of security and that’s where he is most comfortable.
“He has spent virtually all of his adult life in prison.
“His offending began as a teenager.
“If ever there was a gentleman who could be described as institutionalised, it’s him.
“He was only at Castle Huntly for four days.
“It was a few months into lockdown and his concerns were not for himself but for his family.
“He simply wasn’t coping with the relaxed regime at Castle Huntly.
“He dealt with it in this way. It was a spur of the moment thing.
“He ran away to Shotts, because he preferred the regime there.
“He recognises the nuisance that he made of himself.”
Mr Tuck said his client had no memory of damaging the prison gate while he escaped.
‘Significant police resources’
The court heard Hunter spent 28 days in isolation at Shotts as punishment.
Sheriff Gillian Wade told him: “I accept that the circumstances of this matter are somewhat unusual.
“I take account of the fact that significant police resources were deployed as a result of your actions.
“You appreciated that that can only result in a custodial sentence to mark the court’s displeasure.”
Hunter, still a prisoner in Shotts, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half months in jail.
