A prisoner was found propping up the bar of his local pub when he was supposed to be in his cell at Castle Huntly prison.
Armed robber Scott McMillan, 27, had been allowed out for a home leave visit but went to the pub instead of returning to the open prison.
McMillan, from Dundee, was reported missing after failing to meet the bus back to the jail and was found drinking in the pub a few hours later.
Appearing at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday, McMillan admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice by failing to return to the prison on October 25.
Depute fiscal Jim Eodanable said: “On 18th October the accused was given a seven-day home leave period. There was a clear understanding he was to be at Seagate bus station at 2.30pm on 25th October.
“By 2.40pm he had not appeared and that information was passed back to Castle Huntly. They authorised a period of grace for inquiries to be made in case the accused had an accident or whatever.
“His family were contacted and they were not able to explain his non-appearance. The police were made aware and he was found at 11.15pm the same day.
“He was found in the Hill Bar in Hilltown. The accused cooperated with the officers and caused them no difficulty.”
McMillan’s solicitor told the court: “This was his first home release. When he left he never intended this to happen and he fully intended to comply and return at the correct time.
“On the Friday morning he had been at a friend’s house and consumed alcohol. Then he realised he was going to be late and telephoned his father for a lift.
“He had an argument with his father, who refused to take him to the bus station. He realised he was going to miss the bus and stupidly decided to go to the pub and consume more alcohol.
“He knew there was no way of getting away from this. He realises this will have serious consequences for him. He won’t be allowed home again.”
Sheriff Fiona Tait jailed McMillan, who was sentenced to four years at the High Court in Edinburgh in May 2012, for an extra four months.
McMillan was jailed last year for armed robbery after a shopkeeper saw through his “farcical” disguise and recognised him as a regular customer.
He pulled a stocking over his face before walking into the store and demanding money from shopkeeper Eldho Vattakkattiel.
But the victim thought the raid was a joke because he could see through the stocking and recognised McMillan instantly.
Advocate depute Stephen O’Rourke told the High Court in Edinburgh: “The victim recognised the accused as a regular customer at the shop and therefore initially thought it was a joke.
“It was only when the accused produced a large knife and walked behind the counter and threatened him that he realised it was a robbery.”
Defence solicitor advocate Jack Brown said McMillan, who got away with less than £300, had donned a “farcical” disguise for the raid.