Killer had weapons stash in his prison cell
Thug has six months added to life term for murder
A notorious killer stashed a haul of weapons and phones in his cell at a maximum security jail.
John Styles, 27, was caught with six mobiles, 11 illicit sim cards, a screwdriver and a metal spike in his single occupancy cell.
Styles – serving life for the slaying of 38-year-old Dutch artist Jeroen Van Neijhof – admitted having the haul inside Perth Prison on March 2, 2023.
The lifer, who is serving a minimum 15 years for the murder, had another six months added to the end of his sentence.
Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC said: “Your record is relatively short but is extremely concerning. There is no alternative but to impose another custodial sentence.”
Fiscal depute Emma Farmer told Perth Sheriff Court: “Prison officers attended his solo cell for a search but he denied having any prohibited items.
“Items were found wrapped up in paper inside a pair of tracksuit bottoms.”
His lawyer Douglas McConnell said: “There is obviously only one way to deal with the matter. He was given punishment in prison.
“His hall pass was taken away and now he finds himself in court again. There isn’t really any good reason for him having these items.”
Styles, from Dundee, was jailed for life in 2018 for battering his victim so badly he could only be identified by DNA held by the Dutch authorities.
Heroin addict Styles stabbed Jeroen 19 times and told an ex-girlfriend he had “danced all over” the artist’s head.
Styles admitted murdering Jeroen at his victim’s home in Brown Constable Street, Dundee, after being freed twice on bail in the weeks beforehand.
The pair took drugs together but Styles turned on Jeroen when he realised there was no heroin at the house. Styles later told a friend: “You don’t want to know what I’ve done to him – he’s in a bad way.”