A PRISONER who fled an Angus open prison was back in court yesterday after six months on the run.

John Anderson Cox (39), described as prisoner at Noranside, Fern, near Forfar, appeared at the town’s sheriff court after being arrested in his home town of Airdrie the day before. Cox’s lawyer said his client had been “reasonably visible” since absconding on January 28.

Fiscal depute Therese Oswald said that Cox had returned to Noranside from a week-long home visit prior to his escape. He was required to supply a drugs test specimen, which he failed.

A second specimen was taken and sent for analysis on January 28. Although Cox was registered at the prison that day, there was no sign of him that evening.

Cox’s solicitor said his client was offering no “feasible excuse” to the court. “He had been at Castle Huntly, had two uneventful home leaves, came back, failed the test and knew that would mean a return to closed conditions,” the agent said.

He said Cox was serving consecutive prison sentences totalling nine years and, given that he would have to complete the unexpired portion of these, his earliest release date was now around the spring of 2010.

Sheriff Veal expressed surprise that the case had been dealt with by summary proceedings. He jailed Cox for a further 80 days consecutive to any sentence he is serving.