A Castle Huntly inmate who went AWOL over Christmas after his girlfriend took an overdose has had six months added to his sentence.
Steven Robertson (47), of Birch Grove, Methil, admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice by failing to return to the Carse of Gowrie open prison on December 29 after being granted a week’s home leave on December 22.
He was given a 69-month sentence at Edinburgh High Court in February 2010 for a drugs offence.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson told Perth Sheriff Court on Monday that Robertson had been transferred to Castle Huntly in mid-October last year. He had previously been given a period of home leave and that had passed off without incident.
He was granted further leave on December 22 over the Christmas period on the understanding he would he meet Reliance staff at Halbeath on December 29 to be returned to the institution but he failed to turn up.
He phoned prison staff to say he would not be travelling back with Reliance but claimed he had made ”private arrangements” to return. But when he did not show by mid-afternoon, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
A defence solicitor explained he had been suffering from ”emotional effects” after his long-term partner took an overdose.
The solicitor added he was to have been given further home leave on January 4 so there was ”an incentive” for him to return.
Robertson accepted that he chose not to return and that a prison term would be imposed.
Sheriff Michael Fletcher condemned his actions and said custody was the only appropriate sentence.
He is now to be moved to ”closed” conditions.