POLICE hope prostitutes will help them track down a killer and former Carstairs patient who is on the run.
Steven Wilson, who was convicted of manslaughter in 1988, disappeared while on unescorted leave from Leverndale psychiatric hospital on 30 March.
It has emerged the 47-year-old was in regular contact with prostitutes on his mobile phone while in the Glasgow hospital.
But efforts to get the women to reveal the whereabouts of the “restricted patient” have so far proved fruitless and vice squad officers are due to join the hunt tomorrow (Tues).
An email accidentally released by the Scottish Government has revealed full details of the increasingly urgent efforts to track down Wilson.
It revealed he had a ‘history of very serious violence’.
There are fears his disappearance was planned, as he broke his routine of contributing to the hospital’s “carry out” on the day he went missing.
Wilson has a four-inch scar on his face and the tattoo of a cannabis leaf on his left arm.
Searches of the hospital grounds, in Glasgow’s Crookston Road, along with local bars and Wilson’s family and associates have so far proved fruitless.
Vice Squad
A team leader who works with restricted patients wrote in the accidentally leaked email: “They have tracked several contacts via his mobile phone including the two females who had been in regular contact with him at Leverndale Hospital.
“They are known prostitutes.
“They are refusing to divulge any information as to his whereabouts.”
The email adds: “The Vice Squad will be back on duty on Tuesday.
“They will have greater knowledge of the prostitutes in the area and local knowledge which will hopefully lead to locating him.”
The team leader warned: “There is certainly a history of very serious violence in the context of alcohol abuse.
“However given the absence of recent violence and no evidence of consumption of alcohol or drugs we do not think there is an imminent serious risk of harm.”
Absconded
She added: “There was a stabbing at Park Bar, Paisley but the suspect is not Mr Wilson.”
Wilson was on his sixth week of unescorted ground leave at Leverndale when he absconded.
Wilson is classed as a ‘restricted patient,’ after stays in Ashworth High Security psychiatric hospital in England and top-security Carstairs, South Lanarkshire, known formally as the State Hospital.
He has had several previous attempts at conditional discharge which were recalled because of violence.
A warrant was issued to recall him after he went missing in 2007 while on conditional discharge. Police were later able to trace him.
Concern
The Scottish Conservatives said they were concerned the disappearance was not being taken seriously.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman David McLetchie said: “I am concerned that the disappearance of this patient is not being treated with the seriousness which it merits given his violent past and the threat he may pose.”
Scar
The Scottish Government said in their official statement: “We are increasingly concerned about the whereabouts of a restricted patient who has been missing for over two weeks.
“Steven Wilson, a restricted patient, aged 47 failed to return from a period of unescorted ground leave at Leverndale Hospital on Friday 30 March.
“Mr Wilson is 5′ 8″, slim build with receding black hair. He has brown eyes with a tanned complexion and he is clean shaven. He has a scar on the left side of his face which is 4” in length running from his mouth to ear.
“He has a tattoo of a cannabis leaf on his lower left arm and a tattoo of a love heart on the right forearm. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, red addidas tracksuit top, blue jeans and white trainers.
“We are anxious to trace this man and if any member of the public see him they should contact Pollok Police on 0141 532 5600.”
