Violent offender caught after fleeing court during sentencing

Andrew Pattie was rearrested shortly after he escaped from court

A violent offender who escaped from court after being told he was about to be jailed has been captured after hiding under a nearby shipping container.

Court staff tried to grab Andrew Pattie as he leapt over the dock, and one staff member was left holding his jacket, after he escaped through a set of double doors.

Pattie then ran out of Dundee Sheriff Court and into Bell Street before being captured and rearrested shortly afterwards.

The 32-year-old was in the middle of being sentenced to 32 months in jail for a series of attacks on prison officers.

Pattie had admitted causing assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement

After he fled, fiscal depute Lee Corr asked Sheriff Paul Brown to find Pattie in contempt of court.

Sheriff Brown, who had not completed his sentencing of Pattie when he fled, deferred sentence until Friday.

He added that he would consider the possibility of contempt of court and remanded Pattie in custody.

Andrew Pattie was being sentenced at Dundee Sheriff Court when he esacaped

The court was told Pattie had carried out a series of attacks on prison officers which left one scarred for life and forced to retire from work on medical grounds.

Mr Corr said: "On 15 June 2021 an officer was getting prisoners ready to attend football.

"Two staff attended to collect them and they were required to have a PT gym card with them.

"This is mandatory for all prisoners to have should they wish to participate as it shows they had undertaken an induction. The accused became very agitated."

The court heard that Pattie then attacked the officers and struggled with them.

Mr Corr said one of the men suffered a broken nose and a large cut to the bridge which required four stitches.

Solicitor David Duncan, defending, said: "At the time he was struggling with the system he was within, due to a significant bereavement.

"He had a short temper and anger issues and was struggling to accept what had happened to him."

Pattie, who has a list of previous convictions, admitted assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement, assault to injury and threatening or abusive behaviour.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 09.30 on Monday we were advised by court staff that a man had escaped from custody at Dundee Sheriff Court.

"He has since been traced nearby and arrested.

"Inquiries into the incident are continuing."

A spokesperson for GEOAmey, who serve as prison custody officers, said Pattie was not in their care or custody at the time he attempted to flee.

He attended court of his own free will and would not come under their care until his sentence was handed down.

The statement said: "The member of the public attended Dundee Sheriff Court of their own free will, therefore they were not in the custody or care of GEOAmey at any point."