‘Stir crazy’ torturer has jail term extended

A SWASTIKA-tattooed torturer had his jail sentence extended.

James Faulds caused £868 worth of damage by pulling cladding from the roof at Perth Prison.

Faulds claimed he kicked off in the exercise yard because he had “cabin fever” after being kept in the segregation unit for 10 months.

The 30-year-old had two months added to his sentence, although he is already subject to a lifelong restriction order with no fixed date for release.

Fiscal depute Lisa Marshall told Perth Sheriff Court: “This occurred within the separation and reintegration unit’s exercise yard. The accused damaged the roofing when he refused to leave when requested to do so.”

Faulds, from Ayr, admitted causing malicious damage on August 18 and his solicitor said he had recently been diagnosed with a multiple personality disorder.

His lawyer told the court: “He has been in segregation since February. That has been difficult for him because of his mental anxiety. He asked to be allowed into the exercise yard. He fully accepts he just lost it. He calmed down fairly quickly.”

Faulds was given a lifelong order in 2011 for torturing Andrew Allan, a vulnerable young man with learning difficulties, over a £60 debt.

Faulds and accomplice Steven McIlroy blindfolded Mr Allan, hit him with a knife, and held his head underwater.

Lord Bracadale said it was clear “violence was important” to Faulds. He was jailed in 2009 after he bludgeoned a deer to death with a boulder at a children’s petting zoo.

Last year he was jailed for seven and a half years after slashing the throat of an 84-year-old sex offender during a multifaith religious service within Saughton Prison.

Faulds, a practising Muslim, attacked Michael Murphy after an inmate told him he was serving time for sex offences.

Judge Lord Pentland said: “You are a highly dangerous man who poses a substantial risk to the public and to your fellow inmates.”

PUPILS are being encouraged to speak out after data revealed almost 500 cases of recorded bullying in Tayside schools over the past year.

The figures for Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross reported until lockdown in March were obtained through freedom of information requests.

Bullying claims have fallen at Dundee schools in the past year with 148 cases, down from 186 in 2018/19.

Morgan Academy had 10 fewer claims in 2019/20 with 13, St John’s had six and Braeview had five.

Reported cases at Clepington Primary totalled 19, a fall from 35 in 2018/19 and 49 in 2017/18.

However, cases increased at Baldragon Academy with 26, while