Absconder who raped girl, 16, was facing court on same day
Outcry as three more flee prison in Tayside
Published:
Three prisoners are on the run after failing to return to two open prisons in Tayside on the same day.
Dennis Smyth, 39, and John Cartledge, 41, absconded from Castle Huntly, near Dundee, while 28-year-old former soldier Simon Lister went missing from Noranside, in Angus.
The trio had been due to return to the open prisons on Wednesday night after seven days’ home leave but failed to appear.
They fled on the same day a man who raped a schoolgirl after absconding from Castle Huntly was told by a court he would have to wait to hear his punishment.
Robert Foye carried out the attack on the 16-year-old in Cumbernauld last August.
He admitted raping the girl and will return to the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing next month.
Politicians are calling for a review of the circumstances.
The three are the latest in a string of prisoners to abscond from the open prisons and six men are still on the run.
Tayside Police said the search for the men had been extended across the UK.
Officers are focusing on areas the prisoners are known to frequent.
Labour deputy justice spokesman Paul Martin said he would be calling on Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to review the circumstances surrounding the flights.
He said: “This is a result of SNP policy – and things are going to get worse.
“We are going to see more prisoners placed in open prisons. The opportunities for prisoners to abscond are going to increase.”
Tory shadow minister for community safety John Lamont said: “It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many of the prisoners at the open prisons are not suitable to be there.”
Liberal Democrat chief whip Robert Brown called for a review of the protocol governing home leave.
He said: “Three prisoners from open prisons are on the loose at the same time that a former prisoner is awaiting sentencing for raping a schoolgirl while on the run from Castle Huntly. This is a disgraceful situation.”
The Scottish Government said last night the open prisons were only three-quarters full. A spokesman said about 170 places were available at Castle Huntly and Noranside, providing “concrete proof” that the open estate was not being used to relieve overcrowding in other jails.
“The number of absconds from Castle Huntly in 2007-08 was less, at 59, than 66 in the previous year,” he said.
“There is now a clear presumption against returning a prisoner to the open estate if they have previously absconded.
“We are not complacent about this and the justice secretary has also instructed the Scottish Prison Service to establish individual governors at Castle Huntly and Noranside prisons.”
“The value of the open estate has been recognised by previous administrations, as well as inspectors of prisons and the Independent Prisons Commission, as playing an integral part in the rehabilitation process.”
Appealed
Police have appealed for information. The absconders are not thought to be together.
Cartledge, who is known to have friends and family in the Glasgow area, was sentenced to eight years in jail in 2004 after admitting assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of life.
He is about 5ft 8in, with blue eyes and short fair hair. He has two scars on his left arm, a blemish on his left hand and right side of his face and a scar on the left side of his nose.
Smyth was sentenced to six years and eight months in 2006 on housebreaking charges. He is about 5ft 7in, with short brown hair and blue eyes. His left ear is pierced and he has a number of tattoos.
Lister was jailed for seven years in 2004 for a series of assaults and robberies on pensioners.
He was transferred to Noranside in March last year.
Lister is 5ft 8in and of slim build, with blue eyes and fair hair.
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