Scots drug baron on the run after prison escape 'was warned his life was in danger'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scots drug baron who fled from an open prison was warned his life was in danger before he went on the run, underworld sources claim.Sean “Lugs” McGovern absconded from HMP Castle Huntly, near Dundee, on Sunday, and sparked a police manhunt.Sources say the 39-year-old was handed a “threat to life” notice – commonly known as an Osman letter – a matter of days before he vanished.These warnings are issued to individuals when cops discover that someone wants to kill them, but do not have enough evidence to make an arrest.Seven years ago, McGovern was targeted in a horrifying slashing in Edinburgh city centre in while about to return to prison after home leave.Two hitmen set upon him with blades, witnessed by a Record reporter and photographer, 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.A source said: “Lugs got an Osman about two days before he disappeared.

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 was sentenced to 17 years jail after firing two rounds from a shotgun outside the Gauntlet Bar, in Broomhouse, Edinburgh, in 2008.He got six years and nine months for the gun attack and 10 years for running a heroin empire in the capital.On July 27, 2016, McGovern was dropped off in Waterloo Place by his fiancée so he could board a G4S security vehicle back to Castle Huntly.The two men pounced on him in a street busy with shoppers and tourists.McGovern slumped to the ground and was later helped