Lag does a bunk from controversial nick

Dec 17 2010 by Denis Brown, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A LAG has done a bunk from Castle Huntly Prison.

Wardens notified Tayside Police that the con, Ian McDonald (28), absconded from the Carse of Gowrie complex – one of Scotland’s two open prisons – between 6pm and 9pm on Wednesday.

Originally from Paisley, McDonald received a four-year sentence in April last year after being convicted of assault to severe injury.

Police have warned members of the public not to approach the con, who is described as 5ft 10” tall, with short dark hair. He was clean shaven.

Before he did a bunk, McDonald was last seen wearing a black Adidas tracksuit top, dark trousers and sweatshirt and white Reebok trainers.

Controversy has plagued the Longforgan prison during the past few years following frequent vanishing acts by inmates.

In May last year, Brian ‘The Hawk’ Martin – once described as the most dangerous man in Britain – surrendered himself to authorities a week after absconding.

Opposition politicians demanded to know why Martin, then 51, and serving a 12-year sentence for assault, robbery and firearms offences, had been transferred from a high-security nick to Castle Huntly.

Regulations had been reviewed the previous year after another inmate, Robert Foye, raped a schoolgirl after escaping.

In October 2007, opposition politicians lobbied for a review of security arrangements at the prison after police issued a warrant for prisoner Terence Hutton, who had escaped five months earlier.

A police spokesman urged anyone who may have knowledge of McDonald’s whereabouts to contact police on 0300 111 2222 or via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.