Prisoner who carried out armed robberies after escaping from Castle Huntly jailed for 12 years

A career criminal who staged a series of armed, terror raids after fleeing Castle Huntly open prison near Dundee has been jailed for 12 years.

Mark Chung and an accomplice used a gun, knives and a screwdriver as they assaulted staff and customers at shops during a week-long blitz.

The 42-year-old and Benjamin Kinnaird struck three times during the crime spree at premises in Glasgow.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told Chung: "The significant aggravating factor in your case is that you ommitted these offences shortly after absconding from prison."

Lord Arthurson said the crimes must have been "truly terrifying" for employees and customers who were caught up in the armed robberies.

The judge told Chung that his criminal record was one of the worst he had encountered. He ordered that Chung be kept under supervision for a further three year period.

After he fled the jail police appealed for information on Chung but warned members of the public not to approach him.

Chung had been serving a sentence for similar offences.

He previously escaped from a prison in England after hiding inside a waste vehicle.

Lord Arthurson jailed Kinnaird for nine years and told him: "These offences involved a significant level of planning."

He pointed out that Kinnaird had an extensive criminal record but the latest crimes represented a serious escalation in his offending