A drugs baron was tipped off by police that his life was in danger before escaping prison, gang underworld sources have claimed.
Sean McGovern went on the run after absconding HMP Castle Huntly in Perth, Scotland, on Sunday.
The 39-year-old, who is nicknamed "Lugs", was serving a 17 year sentence for drugs-related violence after carrying out a shooting in Edinburgh in 2008 while running a heroin empire.
Insiders told the Daily Record that McGovern was sent an Osman warning days before he went missing from the open prison - a letter sent by police when there is intelligence of threat to your life, but not enough evidence to arrest someone.
After being stabbed by a drugs rival in 2016, the insider said McGovern "wasn't taking any chances".
“Lugs got an Osman about two days before he disappeared,” the insider said.
“After what happened to him last time, he obviously wasn’t taking any chances.
“He’s in Castle Huntly because he’s not far from being released.
“To take such a drastic step and risk having his time in jail extended shows he thinks the threat is real.”
McGovern has been previously targeted by violence and in 2016 was slashed with a knife in broad daylight in Edinburgh in a horror incident which was witnessed by shoppers and captured on camera.
The drugs boss had been dropped off on a street in the city centre to return to open prison when two men wielding knives set on him, before fleeing in a Skoda.
David Togher, the right-hand man of Edinburgh cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson, 36, was later jailed for six years for his role in the ambush after a court heard there had been "bad blood" between them.
Togher's defence barrister Mark Stewart told the court at the time: “He makes no bones about it – he had a historical difference with Mr McGovern that led to this incident.
“He became aware Mr McGovern was at liberty and accepts his conduct as described.”
Police Scotland have now warned the public not to approach McGovern after prison staff reported his disappearance on Sunday evening.
A spokesperson for the force said he was wearing a dark woollen hat, a dark long-sleeve jacket or jumper, light coloured trousers and light-coloured trainers when he went missing.
"It’s believed Sean has connections in the Edinburgh area and the public are being asked not to approach him," the spokesperson said.
"Sean is 39-years-old and described as being white, around 5ft 8, stocky, bald and has a scar on his right cheek."
The force told The Mirror: "We do not comment on threat to life warnings."
The Home Office was also contacted for comment.
