A prison absconder faked food poisoning because he feared the man he tried to murder was going to try and take revenge.
James Boyle failed to turn up for his bus back to Castle Huntly following a period of leave in Glasgow.
He later phoned the open prison to tell staff he had missed the bus after taking ill.
However Perth Sheriff Court was told that Boyle believed he would be targeted at the pick-up point by his victim.
Depute fiscal John Malpass said: “At the time of the offence he was at HMP Castle Huntley as part of an eight-year sentence for attempted murder with a knife.
“Over several months the accused had been granted temporary release licence for home visits. He was given home leave from February 1 until February 8. This was subject to the condition that he attended at the pick-up point at 12.45pm on February 8.
“The G4S bus conveyed the accused and other inmates to the drop-off point in Buchanan Street, Glasgow. At 12.45pm on February 8 they attended to pick up the prisoners and return them to HMP Castle Huntly but it was apparent the accused was not there.
“At 12.50pm staff at the prison received a phone call from the accused, stating that he had a bout of food poisoning and had been unable to make it to the pick-up point. He was advised to return to Castle Huntly immediately.”
After staff were unable to call Boyle back, the police were called in and searched his home address without success.
Mr Malpass continued: “On February 21 police in the Govan area traced the accused at the home of a known associate.”
Boyle’s solicitor, Kenny Clark, said he feared repercussions from his earlier offence.
He said: “It came to his attention that the victim of the attempted murder intended on seeking vengeance against Mr Boyle, either through himself or others, and was aware he was on home leave.
“It is well known in certain circles that the pick-up point is on Buchanan Street – he thought he would be a sitting duck there. That is as far as it went – this was by no means Machiavellian skulduggery.”
He said Boyle had spent his days on the run “sofa surfing” with friends.
Boyle, 24 admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice between February 8 and 21 this year by failing to comply with the condition that he be at the pick-up point on Buchanan Street and by repeatedly taking steps to avoid police finding his whereabouts.
Sheriff Gillian Wade added a further 18 months to Boyle’s current sentence.
Boyle was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow in 2012 after stabbing friend Scott Drummond, 24, four times.
