Why was escaped killer's violent past kept secret?

Reporter

Tuesday 17 April 2012

JUSTICE Minister Kenny MacAskill is under pressure to explain why the public was not told of the serious violent history of a psychiatric patient who went on the run from hospital two weeks ago.

STEVEN WILSON: Still on the loose after absconding on March 30.

Custom byline text:

Jody Harrison

Steven Wilson, who was convicted of manslaughter in England in 1988, is still on the loose after he absconded from Leverndale Hospital in Crookston, Glasgow, during an unescorted visit on March 30.

The Scottish Government made an initial public appeal for help in tracing Wilson, and warned the public not to approach him. His violent past was only revealed in an email issued by mistake to the media yesterday.

Labour justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald said last night it was deeply worrying that ministers had failed to let the public know about Wilson's past. He added: "The priority must be that this dangerous individual, with a history of very serious violence, is tracked down as soon as possible."Despite the fact this man has been on the run for over two weeks, it is deeply worrying the SNP Government seems to have tried to conceal the fact this individual had a history of serious violent offending. The bottom line is, when a convicted killer goes on the run, the public deserve to be told. Kenny MacAskill must explain why this did not happen." Wilson, 47, has been a patient in psychiatric hospitals since his conviction for manslaughter and "wounding with intent". The offender, who was previously at Ashworth high security hospital on Merseyside and Carstairs, is classed as a "restricted" patient, in other words a prisoner who has committed a crime but is mentally unfit to go to prison. He was undergoing rehabilitation when he disappeared from the NHS facility. Phone records show he had been contacting prostitutes from inside the hospital. He is now being tracked by detectives from the vice squad.In the email, his escape is discussed by a team leader who works with Wilson. It spelled out the chances of him being a danger to the public. The leader said: "There is certainly a history of very serious violence in the context of alcohol abuse. However, given the absence of recent violence and no evidence of consumption of alcohol or drugs we do not think there is an imminent serious risk of harm."There was a stabbing at Park Bar, Paisley, but the suspect is not Mr Wilson." The email added: "[Police] have tracked several contacts via his mobile phone including the two females who had been in regular contact with him at Leverndale Hospital. They are known prostitutes. They are refusing to divulge any information as to his whereabouts.The leader adds the vice squad "have greater knowledge of the prostitutes in the area and local knowledge which will hopefully lead to locating him".Wilson was on his sixth week of unescorted leave. He has had several previous attempts at a conditional discharge, but all have ended with him being recalled because of violence. He went missing in 2007 while on conditional discharge, and a warrant had to be issued for him to be recalled. Police were later able to trace him.Wilson has a four-inch scar on his face and the tattoo of a cannabis leaf on his left arm. He has brown eyes and a tanned complexion and is clean shaven. He has a slim build with receding black hair, and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, red Adidas tracksuit top, blue jeans and white trainers.There are fears his disappearance was planned, as he broke his routine on the day he went missing.Searches of the hospital grounds and local bars have so far proved fruitless. Police have also spoken to Wilson's family and his associates. The SNP has come in for criticism in the past for its apparent soft-touch approach to prisoner rehabilitation following a number of high-profile cases.In 2009, convicted murderer John Brown, 57, who was sentenced to life in 1976, failed to return to Castle Huntly Open Prison near Dundee after being allowed out on home leave. A week later, another serious offender, Brian Martin, went on the run before later handing himself in.Both cases came after Robert Foye, 31, raped a 16-year-old schoolgirl after absconding from the same prison in 2007. A Scottish Government spokesman: "This individual is a restricted patient, and therefore it is a matter for the Health Service rather than the Scottish Prison Service. Some background information on the work to track down Mr Wilson was sent in error."The priority is finding him and we continue to encourage anyone who has any information to contact Pollok police."We have informed the public and media he is missing on three occasions over the last 17 days, including the advice that he should not be approached."

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Why was escaped killer's violent past kept secret?

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED