On-the-run inmate hid in bushes

Dennis Smyth hid in a hedge behind a chapel when police arrived

An inmate who went on the run from an open prison has had six months added to his sentence after being caught hiding in bushes behind a chapel.

Dennis Smyth claimed he absconded from Castle Huntly to escape from the heroin habit he developed behind bars.

He told Perth Sheriff Court he did not have a drug problem until he was moved to the jail, near Dundee.

Smyth, 39, failed to return to the prison on 16 July after home leave. He was found on Wednesday in Lanarkshire.

He had been serving a sentence of six years and eight months, imposed in 2006 for a series of housebreaking offences, when he went on the run.

He was let out of Castle Huntly on 9 July and was due to return a week later. In court he admitted failing to head back on 16 July and going on the run for a further week.

Sheriff Michael Fletcher asked: "He was sentenced in February 2006 to six years and eight months and by July 2008 he's getting seven days home leave?"

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, confirmed that Smyth had actually been let out for seven days on an earlier occasion as well, but this time was afraid to return.

Mr Holmes added: "He should have returned on the 16th but within the prison system he had started to owe money.

There are very serious problems indeed in relation to people absconding from Castle Huntly. Sheriff Michael Fletcher

"Those within the prison told him he must bring something back on his return. He wasn't prepared to do that.

"He hadn't suffered a drug difficulty as a younger man and it was only in the past month or so that his problems weighed heavily upon him and he started taking heroin. He didn't want to return to prison."

Sheriff Fletcher said: "There are very serious problems indeed in relation to people absconding from Castle Huntly. Courts simply aren't able to tolerate that.

"In this case you remained at large for some days and you had to be found to be taken back to Castle Huntly."

Smyth was one of three prisoners who absconded from open prisons in Tayside on the same day.

Fellow Castle Huntly inmate John Cartledge, 41, who was serving an eight year sentence for a serious assault, had a further six months added to his jail term after handing himself in last week.

Noranside prisoner Simon Lister, 28, was serving a seven year sentence for assaults and robberies and he had four months added to his current term.