Inmate 'fled jail to kick habit'

The court heard that Castle Huntly has a problem with drugs

A murderer escaped from an open prison so that he could kick the addiction he developed at the jail, a court heard.

Scott McEwan, 28, spent a month on the run from Castle Huntly near Dundee - only returning once he was drug-free.

Perth Sheriff Court heard McEwan had been a "model prisoner" in other jails but came under "intense pressure" from inmates at Castle Huntly to take drugs.

He admitted absconding from the jail only a few months away from his release date and was jailed for three months.

McEwan was one of four teenagers found guilty of murdering 18-year-old Iain Dyne in a car park in Corby, Northants, in 1993.

He was handed a life sentence for what was described as a merciless killing.

There is a great drug problem in Castle Huntly Christopher Gilmartin Defence lawyer

Lawyer Christopher Gilmartin said his client had remained clean until earlier this year.

"It is a sad indictment of HMP Castle Huntly that he has developed a drug habit while he was in there," he said.

"He was getting so close to release and it was so out of character and unfortunate that he resorted to drug use."

He said McEwan had served 11-and-a-half years of a 12-year tariff.

"He has served in many different prisons in England and Scotland," said Mr Gilmartin.

"He has been the model prisoner. From the beginning he took the decision to knuckle down and get on with it.

'Intense pressure'

"He has been on courses, work placements and trusted in the community."

However, when he was transferred to Castle Huntly in December last year he discovered that there was "a great abundance" of drugs available.

"There is a great drug problem in Castle Huntly," added the lawyer.

"There was intense pressure on him to begin using drugs, despite being so close to his release date. He resisted until May.

Free of drugs

"He began taking heroin and became addicted. His habit got worse. He realised it was getting out of control and formed the view he could not deal with it in Castle Huntly."

Mr Gilmartin said his client spent a month kicking his habit in Dundee before handing himself in to police when he was free of drugs.

"He thought this was the only way out. He was concerned for his health," he said.

Fiscal depute Nicola Gillespie said McEwan had simply walked out of the front door of the prison with some of his friends after a visit.