An “angry fugitive,” in hiding after absconding from Castle Huntly open prison near Dundee, has apparently taken time out from his life on the run to criticise The Courier for its “biased” reporting of his case.

A bizarre Email purporting to be from serial fraudster Derek Watson dropped into the newspaper’s inbox in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Watson—who has been AWOL since failing to return to the prison on October 8 following an authorised week-long release—launched an expletive-ridden attack on The Courier for its coverage since his disappearance.

In the Email the 42-year-old said he was in hiding in Timbuktu but gave his postcode as being in Longforgan, the village where Castle Huntly prison is located.

The note, which was addressed to the editor, stated, “I read online your reporter’s untrue comments relating to my absconding from Castle Huntle [sic] open estate on 7th October.

“The comments say I preyed on the elderly and vulnerable people. This is most certainly not true.”

Watson appears to say his offending had been indiscriminate in its nature when he cites a 2005 report from a Dundee sheriff that apparently states his criminality had “not targeted any particular class of people.”

However, his long criminal career has seen him defraud a number of older people including a 73-year-old woman, a 79-year-old man and a septuagenarian couple.

He once even stepped in as a “white knight” to prevent a 75-year-old man from being the victim of bogus workmen—but ended up defrauding him of £4000.

His largest fraud involved a Dundee University research fellow, conned out of almost £42,000.

Incredibly, in a court appearance Watson once painted a picture of himself as a “soft-hearted” individual who empathised with his victims.

This was despite three appearances at Dundee Sheriff Court in the space of three years when he was convicted of collectively netting himself almost £63,000 by defrauding householders, either by promising to do work and not doing it or failing to repay loans.

The Courier passed Watson’s Email on to police on Saturday and a spokesman confirmed the fugitive was still at large and the note had been drawn to the attention of officers searching for him.

The force has previously appealed to the public to come forward with any information they have about his whereabouts.

Watson is described as six feet tall, of stocky build, with short brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He is known to have friends and family in both the Dundee and Perth areas.

Anyone who has seen Watson should contact the police immediately on 0845 600 5705 or speak to any police officer. Information can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.