A prisoner ran away from Scotland’s open jail and handed himself in at a maximum security facility because he did not like the relaxed regime, a court was told.

William Hunter, 43, ran out of Castle Huntly prison in Perthshire and fled nearly 70 miles across the country to Shotts prison, North Lanarkshire, because he considered it to be his “own” jail.

A full-scale search – including a police helicopter – was launched when Hunter was seen jogging away from the open prison on the outskirts of Dundee on Nov 14 2020.

But within a few hours he had made his way to Shotts because he preferred the stricter regime, Perth sheriff court was told on Thursday

‘Preferred the regime’

Solicitor Keith Tuck, defending, said: “He ran away from Castle Huntly to Shotts because he preferred the regime there. He recognises the nuisance he made of himself.

“The circumstances are a little unusual. He has mostly been in Shotts prison, which has a high level of security, and that is where he is most comfortable.”

Mr Tuck said Hunter had spent “virtually all his adult life in prison” and had only arrived at Castle Huntly four days earlier but had struggled to cope with the “relaxed regime”.

“He was on the phone to his father and on the spur of the moment he walked out. He was able to walk out as easily as he wished,” Mr Tuck said.

“He goes on to prove it by turning up at Shotts. He made his own way there and turned up a few hours later.”

Convicted of serious assault

Hunter, of Glasgow, was jailed for eight years for attempted murder in 2000 and moved to England after his release. He was then convicted of serious assault and jailed for four years in 2009.

However, he was still serving that sentence as parole was repeatedly refused. He was returned to the Scottish prison system on compassionate grounds.

He admitted absconding from Castle Huntly and was jailed for nine and a half months by Sheriff Gillian Wade.

She said: “The circumstances are somewhat unusual. I have to take into account the significant police resources deployed as a result of the action you took.”