Violent prisoner who fled court during sentencing given extra jail time

A violent offender who escaped from a courtroom dock while he was being sentenced has been given an extra 16 months in jail.

Andrew Pattie was found guilty of contempt of court for fleeing as he was being told he was going to be sent to prison for 32 months for serious prison attacks.

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 had tried to grab Pattie as he leapt over the dock on September 2 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.

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.

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.

The original 32-month sentence was reimposed and Sheriff Paul Brown added 16 months as he told Pattie – via video link – that he would now serve a total of four years in jail.

Sheriff Brown said: “I find you in contempt for escaping from the dock. You surveyed your surroundings before acting as you did. You tied up resources.

“You disrupted the business of a busy solemn court and there was the potential for far greater harm. That is a serious matter.”