A convicted murderer has gone on the run from an open prison near Dundee.

Raymond McCourt, 59, who shot a shopkeeper in 1993, was reported missing from HMP Castle Huntly wearing a suit and tie.

McCourt, from Glasgow, was previously released on licence in 2015 but was sent back to jail for theft just weeks later.

A court at the time heard he had struggled with freedom and wanted to be back behind bars. Police Scotland has warned the public not to approach him.

The force said McCourt absconded from Castle Huntly at 17:30 on Tuesday. It is not clear if he was away from the prison on licence at the time.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Raymond uses public transport and has connections to the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas.

“He is described as being 6ft 2in tall, stocky build with short grey hair and beard and has reduced mobility.”

McCourt was jailed, age 27, for murdering shopkeeper Khalid Mahmood in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, in 1993.

He shot him in the head before attempting to rob a nearby bakery.

McCourt also shot local woman Moira Rooney and PC Brian Williams, who was giving chase as he fled the scene of the incident.

He was jailed for offences including murder, attempted murder, assault and robbery, assault to severe injury and firearms offences.

McCourt was released on licence in 2015 and went to live with his partner Agnes Hailes in Alyth, Perthshire.

But Perth Sheriff Court heard that he then stole from her and sold off her valuables.

He used the money to pay for a holiday to Blackpool before he was eventually tracked down by police.

He told officers that he was struggling to cope with life outside of prison, and had stolen the items have a blow-out before returning to jail.

McCourt was given a 10-month term for the theft and recalled him to prison on his life sentence.

HMP Castle Huntly is Scotland’s only open prison.

Police Scotland has asked for anyone with information on McCourt to get in touch.