Scotland’s justice system was slammed last night after a criminal branded one of the UK’s most wanted offenders was allowed to walk free from court.
Adrian Vasilescu who was being hunted for stabbing and slashing two women was snared in Paisley after an international manhunt lasting more than a decade.
However, the knife thug is back on the run after failing to appear for sentence at Paisley High Court.
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The 42-year-old Romanian, wanted in his homeland for slashing a woman’s throat with a broken bottle, featured in a 2011 Crimestoppers list of dangerous fugitives living in Britain.
In 2020 he was arrested by Scottish detectives probing the attempted murder of a woman he had repeatedly stabbed in a flat in Brick Lane, Paisley.
Astoundingly, he was freed from custody and granted bail – even though he was a known flight risk who had previously been caught trying to leave the UK.
When his case called for sentencing last week court officials admitted he had disappeared again.
Meanwhile, Vasilescu is still wanted by police in his native Romania.
Critics said the ‘farcical’ court decision to release him from custody showed how the public were being put in danger.
Scottish Tory community safety spokesman Russell Findlay said: “It’s staggering that a highly dangerous criminal with such a long history of going on the run should be bailed.
“Given his background it comes as no surprise he has now vanished again – putting innocent members of the public at risk.
“Far too many dangerous offenders are being bailed. However, the SNP’s proposed soft-touch bail law can only make this even worse.”
Vasilescu was accused of slashing a woman’s throat in his home country In 2007, before he fled to the UK.
In October 2011, he appeared on Crimestoppers’ list of 14 of the most dangerous foreign suspects being hunted by Scotland Yard.
It included a serial killer as well as murderers and rapists who had committed crimes in Romania, Poland, Albania and Georgia.
Vasilescu was tracked down and detained in London in November 2011.
He appeared in court and was granted bail after being ordered to surrender his passport.
He was also told to check in at a police station every day but went on the run and vanished for nearly a decade.
Having fled to Scotland, Vasilescu came to the attention of police again in July 2020 when he tried to kill his girlfriend, Oana Clapotura, in their Paisley flat.
The thug repeatedly stabbed her, leaving her severely injured and permanently scarred.
He then tried to escape to France using the Channel Tunnel but was arrested at Folkestone in Kent.
Sent back to Scotland, Vasilescu was detained and charged with attempted murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
He appeared on petition before Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill at Paisley Sheriff Court and was granted bail yet again.
When his trial began at the High Court in Paisley, Vasilescu pleaded not guilty and even gave evidence.
But he absconded before the end of the case. A judge issued a warrant for his arrest – then found him guilty in his absence.
A Judiciary of Scotland spokesman said: "In considering whether or not to grant bail the sheriff must take into account what is put to the court by the Crown and by the defence."
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