'Hawk' case 'puts public at risk'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/8061425.stm

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The Scottish Government has been accused of failing to protect the public after a serious offender went on the run from an open prison.

Brian Martin, known as "The Hawk", absconded from from Castle Huntly open prison, near Dundee on Monday.

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray suggested the 51-year-old, serving time for a firearms offence, was too dangerous to be there at the time.

But the first minister said absconding levels were at an all time low.

Martin, 51, once dubbed "the most dangerous man in Britain", who was transferred to Castle Huntly from Shotts prison in April, was sentenced three years ago to 10 years for firing a gun in a house in Fife.

'Armed robberies'

At the time, Martin, from Ballingry, was on licence from a 12-year prison sentence for assault, robbery and firearms crimes.

During question time at Holyrood, Mr Gray said: "When he walked out of the open prison on Monday, Brian Martin was just three years into a 10-year sentence.

"His previous offences included a string of armed robberies and threatening police with a sawn-off shotgun.

Mr Gray told Alex Salmond: "This is a man once dubbed the most dangerous man in Britain - will the first minister agree that Brian Martin should not have been in an open prison in the first place?"

The first minister insisted the number of absconders from open jails was lower than under Labour, and said open prisons were intended for long-term prisoners approaching the end of their sentence.

He added: "Any absconding from an open prison is to be deeply regretted."

Mr Salmond went on: "I don't think Iain Gray is on firm ground complaining about abscondees, when the rate under this justice secretary is one-fifth of what it was under the Labour Party."