A convicted killer who went on the run from Castle Huntly open prison treated himself to a tour of the UK, Perth Sheriff Court has heard.
Brian McGowan made numerous visits the length and breadth of the country as he travelled south from Callander before finally being apprehended in Colchester at the weekend.
The 36-year-old prisoner had been on the run since July 17 after failing to return following a short period of home leave.
Police issued an appeal for aid in tracking down McGowan who has spent the past 17 years behind bars though the force said he was not thought to be dangerous.
He is serving a life sentence of indeterminate length for the murder of 56-year-old Andrew Robertson, imposed by the High Court at Stirling in 1994.
After missing transport from Callander to Stirling, where he was to have been picked up by Reliance staff, the court was told he had simply taken the decision not to return to prison.
He headed south of the border via Stirling, Alloa, Glasgow and London before arriving in Colchester, where he has family.
However McGowan was spotted on CCTV by police as he walked through the city centre in the company of an unidentified female.Not pre-meditated claimHe and his companion then fled when approached by officers and led them on a chase through the streets before eventually surrendering himself without a struggle.
Solicitor David Duncan told the court his client’s decision to abscond had not been pre-meditated and claimed McGowan had initially made every possible effort to return to Castle Huntly on time.
“He had to get from Callander to Stirling for collection on that day and intended to get a regular noon bus, but unfortunately did not factor in the Sunday service,” the agent said.
“He was unable to get a bus and was not present for his collection, but he did thereafter make a series of phonecalls to Reliance to keep them informed of his situation.”
After efforts to secure alternative transport failed and it became clear he could not return to the prison before his deadline came and went, Mr Duncan admitted his client had “decided he would not return.”
He said, “He visited his sister’s grave in Stirling and then went on to Alloa to say goodbye to members of his family as he knew he was unlikely to see them again for some time.
“He then went to Glasgow, on to London and ultimately to Colchester where he visited his cousin’s grave as he’d been unable to attend her funeral as he had been in custody.”Custody extendedThe solicitor said McGowan had also taken the opportunity to carry out a number of other personal and family tasks in the knowledge that he was unlikely to be given further home leave any time soon.
He added, “My client was to have had a parole hearing in January 2012.
“He had been working towards parole while at Castle Huntly and had been taking the opportunity of working in the community at a charity shop.
“He will no doubt now leave Castle Huntly for a stricter regime and has to acknowledge that his time in custody will be extended.”
McGowan admitted that on July 17, at Castle Huntly, he absconded in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice having been sentenced to life imprisonment at Stirling High Court on November 28, 1994.
Sheriff Michael Fletcher said, “When a custodial sentence is imposed you are expected to serve it or face the consequences.”
He ordered McGowan to serve an additional six months’ imprisonment.