Attacker accused of failing to return to Castle Huntly prison

A prisoner who left two men scarred in separate knife attacks was allowed out of prison for home visits and allegedly failed to return.

Darren Campbell appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court to face a petition alleging he went AWOL from Castle Huntly prison.

Campbell, 35, is alleged to have failed to return to the prison on Sunday after being allowed to go home last Wednesday.

The petition alleged Campbell was due to be picked up at Buchanan Street bus station in Glasgow at 12.45pm on September 13 and attempted to defeat the ends of justice by failing to turn up.

Campbell made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination.

Campbell was jailed for four years in 2007 and for a further eight years in 2008 for knife attacks that left both victims scarred.

In the latter incident, the High Court in Glasgow heard how 25-year-old Paul Breslin’s face “fell apart” because he was so badly slashed during the knife attack in Hamilton.

The judge, Lord Philip, was told Campbell had attacked Breslin while on bail after being charged with slashing another man on the face.

He was subsequently jailed for four years for that attack.