Police have traced an on-the-run murderer who once beat a man to death with a hammer after more than a month of searching.
Killer James Casey failed to return to Castle Huntly open prison near Dundee following a period of day release on Thursday December 10.
The 50-year-old was nearing the end of a 14-year sentence for robbing a West Lothian Post Office in 2002.
That offence came just months after he had been released from prison after receiving a life sentence for the brutal murder of an Invergordon social club boss in 1990.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We can confirm that prisoner James Casey who failed to return to HMP Castle Huntly by Dundee following a period of day release, has been traced by officers in the Birmingham area.
“Thank you to everyone for their assistance in this matter.”
Casey killed Ian MacBeth, 37, outside the Invergordon Social and Recreational Club in September 1990.
He and accomplice George McNairn lay in wait for the father-of-two for four nights before launching their attack.
Wearing stocking masks and heavy woollen socks over their shoes to cover the sound of their approach, they struck him with a mason’s hammer and stole £1,260 in takings.
They then bundled Mr Macbeth into his own car and drove to Tulloch Wood near Kindacre.
There he was attacked again, this time with a wooden sign.
The final blow broke Mr MacBeth’s neck. It was later discovered he had suffered three skull fractures during the frenzied assault.
The robbers then handcuffed their victim to a tree, gagged him with his own socks and left the scene.