By Brian Smith

FURTHER TIME has been granted to prepare reports on the man who raped a schoolgirl while on the run from Castle Huntly Open Prison near Dundee last year.

Robert Foye (28) appeared before Lady Smith at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday after the judge ordered a risk assessment, which could put him under supervision for the rest of his life.

Foye had pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to assaulting the 16-year-old in his home town of Cumbernauld in August last year.

He had been allowed out of Castle Huntly to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Dundee but did not return, and he had been on the run for almost a week when he carried out the attack.

Foye was halfway through a 10-year sentence for attempting to murder a CID officer when he absconded.

The case led to questions in the Scottish Parliament and prompted a review of the open estate prison system.

At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday defence counsel Ronnie Renucci said the report on the risk assessment was not yet available but progress was being made.

The experts preparing the report carried out their first interview with Foye on Friday and he is due to be seen again today. A further interview will also be required before the report is compiled.

The judge observed that the interviews were not the only part of the process as the experts were also required to obtain background information and consider their opinion before presenting their report.

Mr Renucci said that Foye was “anxious that the matter be dealt with as quickly as possible.”

Lady Smith said, “I am satisfied more time is required for proper investigation.

“They require highly detailed and anxious consideration.”

Sentence was further deferred to July 16 for the reports to be prepared.