The manhunt continues for James Fitzpatrick who absconded from HMP Castle Huntly on Tuesday, December 30
The manhunt continues for a prisoner who absconded four days ago as police release new images.
James Fitzpatrick, 36, was reported missing from HMP Castle Huntly, Scotland’s only open prison, on Tuesday, December 30. The public has been warned not to approach him and to contact officers immediately if he is seen.
Police Scotland say Fitzpatrick was last seen getting off a bus on Main Street in Stevenston on Monday, December 29. He had boarded the No 11 Stagecoach bus on High Street in Irvine that morning.
An image released by the force shows him on the bus, which runs to Ardrossan, before he got off at around 12pm. A second image shows him with his hood up at a bus stop. After leaving the bus, he was seen heading towards New Street and has not been seen since, the Daily Record reports.
He is described as white, around 5ft 8in tall, of stocky build and with short brown hair. When last seen on Monday, he was wearing a black Nike tracksuit with white stripes down the arms and legs and carrying a yellow JD Sports carrier bag and a large black holdall.
Fitzpatrick had been on an approved visit from his sentence at HMP Castle Huntly when he absconded and is known to have links to Ayrshire.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Enquiries are ongoing to trace a 36-year-old man who has failed to return to HMP Castle Huntly from an approved visit and has travelled to Ayrshire.
“James Fitzpatrick was reported missing on Tuesday, December 30, and was last seen around 11.30am on Monday, December 29, on the High Street in Irvine when he boarded the No 11 Stagecoach bus for Ardrossan.
“Enquiries so far have found he got off the bus at noon on Main Street in Stevenston, heading towards New Street. He has not been seen since and officers are keen to locate him.”
Anyone who sees him is urged to call police on 999, quoting incident number 2717 of Monday, December 29 or contact the anonymous charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
