Another violent prisoner goes missing from open jail

A VIOLENT criminal has absconded from an open prison after serving less than a third of his sentence.

Peter Duff, 28, who was jailed for nine years in August 2007 for assault, robbery and firearms offences, failed to return to Castle Huntly prison, near Dundee, on Wednesday, following a period of home leave. It follows a number of high-profile abscondings from Castle Huntly in recent years.

Opposition parties last night demanded answers, calling on justice secretary Kenny MacAskill to "get a grip".

The Scottish Conservative community safety spokesman John Lamont said: "What on earth is someone doing in an open jail less than a third of the way through their sentence?"

Labour's justice spokesman Richard Baker demanded an emergency statement from Mr MacAskill.