Carjack yob has string of violent convictions

A CAREER criminal who escaped from custody and carjacked a young woman before tearing through the city in a high-speed chase has a string of previous convictions for violence and sparking police pursuits, the Evening News can reveal.

William Williams, 27, head-butted Reliance guard James McGhee before fleeing into Holyrood Park, stealing a Ford Fiesta, and speeding through Edinburgh on May 12 at 8.15am. Williams then tore through the streets pursued by police before ploughing into a bollard in Leith. The drama ended 15 minutes later with the Fiesta written off and on its roof in Primrose Street.

Williams, who was bleeding from the face, attempted to flee but was pounced on by officers.

Yesterday, at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Williams was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for a string of offences, including assaulting a police officer at the Royal Infirmary. He was also banned from driving for five years.

He had been due at the same court on May 12 on charges relating to reselling jewellery.

The News can now reveal that Williams received a 19-month jail sentence in 2000 for admitting 33 crimes - at the age of just 17 - including a 10,000 crime spree that ended with a high-speed police chase.

In 2006, Williams was sentenced to nearly three years for stealing a Fiesta, ripping the door from a police car and smashing into a parked Peugeot, where a mother had just finished strapping in her child.

While in prison awaiting his court appearance, he head-butted a Reliance guard.

In March and April 2007, he spent five weeks on the run in Edinburgh after fleeing Castle Huntly open prison, and he punched a pensioner in the face during a raid on her home in Meadowbank in May 2008.

Today, Reliance - which recently lost the contract for transporting prisoners - accepted responsibility for Williams' escape, which it said was down to procedure not being followed by the other officer.

A spokesman said: "We are satisfied that our risk assessments and other procedures are robust. Unfortunately in this case an officer, who is no longer with the company, failed to follow those procedures."

Politicians and victims demanded to know why Williams had been banned from driving for just five years.

Scottish Tory justice spokesman John Lamont said: "The court could have looked at a longer driving disqualification to ensure roads users are safe."

Sean Kernan, who was helping his disabled mother move her car out of her garage in Primrose Street and had to dive to the ground to avoid being hit by Williams, said: "If that had been my mother who was in the path of the car, she could easily have been killed."

Catriona Perry, who had to flee when Williams jumped in her car, welcomed the sentence but declined to comment further.

Yesterday, defence agent John Good said: "There have been concerns raised about his mental health.He is anxious to address the issues underlying his offending behaviour." The court heard Williams was previously on a drug treatment and testing order which he breached.