Criminal who ran from dock at Dundee court after hearing jail term found hiding under shipping container

A violent criminal who ran from a courtroom dock after hearing he was about to be jailed for 32 months was found hiding under a shipping container nearby.

Andrew Pattie sparked a major manhunt after jumping out of the dock and escaping from Dundee Sheriff Court as several police and court staff gave chase.

Staff tried to grab Pattie as he leapt over the dock and one was left holding his jacket as he slipped out of it and burst through a set of double doors.

Pattie then ran out of the court building and into Bell Street – adjacent to police HQ – where he was initially lost to sight. A search of nearby streets found him hiding under a works container adjacent to Abertay University.

He was involved in a 20 minute standoff with officers in heavy rain before eventually giving himself up. Pattie was seen to be drenched and shivering as he was taken into the back of a police van.

After he fled, fiscal depute Lee Corr asked Sheriff Paul Brown to find him in contempt of court. It is understood prison escort company GeoAmey could face a £50,000 fine in relation to losing a prisoner.

Once he was recaptured, Sheriff Brown recalled the case and was told that Pattie was in cells downstairs, but was being disruptive and had refused to speak to his solicitor.

Sheriff Brown said: “I would like to give the Crown a chance to speak to the police and come to a view as to whether or not this will be a prosecution.

“We might get to a point of dealing with this in his absence because of disruption, but we are not quiet there yet. I had started to give him his sentence, but hadn’t finished, so I can defer sentence again.

“I am minded to revoke his bail and remand him in custody. I will continue consideration of contempt of court and also remand him in respect of that.” He deferred sentence until Friday.

Mr Corr said he would advise the court on Friday whether or not the Crown would be seeking to prosecute Pattie for fleeing from court.

Andrew Pattie was in court after carrying out a series of attacks on prison officers when he escaped the dock. Gordon Currie

The court was initially told Pattie had carried out a series of attacks on prison officers which left one scarred for life and being forced to retire from work on medical grounds.

Sheriff Brown told him: “This is a serious offence. I have taken into account all of the information, but I am afraid the matter is so serious there is no appropriate alternative to a custodial sentence.” He told Pattie, 32, from Dundee, he would be jailed for 32 months, prompting him to escape.

Mr Corr said: “The complainers are a prison officer and a PE instructors. The accused was a serving prisoner at the time. On 15 June 2021 an officer was getting prisoners ready to attend football.

“Pattie was part of a group of approximately 12 prisoners. Two staff attended to collect them and they were required to have a PT gym card with them

“This is mandatory for all prisoners to have should they wish to participate as it shows they had undertaken an induction. The accused became very agitated.

“They informed him to calm down as there was no issue because he had his card. [One man] turned away and observed the accused throwing a punch at [a second man] to the side of his head.

“[The first man]was also punched to the nose. [This man] held the accused to try and gain control. [A third man] intervened and put the accused in a bear hug.

“The accused continued to struggle with [the third man], causing both to fall to the ground. [The man’s] elbow hit directly off the concrete floor.

“They got Mr Pattie in a hand lock. [The first man] got hold of his head. [The man’s] nose was bleeding heavily. Another prisoner intervened, trying to pull them off the accused.

“[The third man] pressed the alarm for staff assistance. Due to his elbow injury he then stepped back. The accused taken to the segregation and reintegration unit.”

Mr Corr said the first man suffered a broken nose and a large cut to the bridge which required four stitches. The injury left him with permanent scarring.

“In June 2021 he attended Ninewells Hospital to have his nose realigned. [The man] was unable to return to work. He was shaken from the assault and medically retired from his role. He attended trauma therapy.

“[The second man] had a pain in his neck and swelling to his head. He has made a full recovery, but was absent from work for four and a half months due to the incident. [The third man] was off work for four days.”

Solicitor David Duncan, defending, said: “At the time he was struggling with the system he was within, due to a significant bereavement. His partner passed away.

“He had a short temper and anger issues and was struggling to accept what had happened to him. This was 2021 and his personal circumstances have moved on quite significantly since then.”

Pattie, who has a list of previous convictions, admitted assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement, assault to injury and threatening or abusive behaviour.