John Bowden

Case record

John Bowden was sentenced to life in prison in 1982.

Timeline

• 1982 — John Bowden was sentenced to life in prison at the Old Bailey after being convicted of murdering park-keeper Donald Ryan.
• 1992 — While being held at Maidstone jail in Kent, John Bowden went on the run during a compassionate visit to his sick father.
• 1995 — John Bowden was transferred to Scotland, where he was held at a number of jails.
• October 2007 — John Bowden was transferred to Noranside jail.
• 2008 — John Bowden was being tested in “open conditions” when he absconded from Noranside jail in Angus; he was last seen near the Tesco store in Castle Street, Forfar, and police warned the public not to approach him.

Background

John Bowden was originally from south London. He was 51 at the time police were hunting him in 2008.

He was due to be considered for parole later that month.

John Bowden was held in England before being transferred to Scotland in 1995, where he was held at a number of jails before being transferred to Noranside in October 2007.

In 2008, John Bowden had contact with the group Anarchist Black Cross, which campaigned for the abolition of the prison system. Bowden had written for the group’s website. He blamed the brutalising effect of the penal system for the “senseless” murder of park-keeper Donald Ryan.

John Bowden was on regular home leaves and was moved to open prison conditions in the year before his absconding.

The offence

John Bowden, with two accomplices, lured park-keeper Donald Ryan to a flat to rob him. Donald Ryan was knocked unconscious and was then put in a bath. While he was still alive, Donald Ryan was mutilated and dismembered using a handsaw, electric carving knife and a machete.

Park-keeper Donald Ryan was 49.

Investigation

Police examined CCTV footage and worked with British Transport Police and other forces to trace John Bowden.

Arrest / escape and custody incidents

In 1992, while being held at Maidstone jail in Kent, John Bowden went on the run during a compassionate visit to his sick father. He was later recaptured and transferred to Scotland in 1995.

The material also described that John Bowden was sent back to jail after being caught for dole fraud and identified by his fingerprints as a prisoner on the run.

In 2008, John Bowden failed to return to Noranside jail in Angus on Thursday after being allowed out. Police said Bowden was being tested in “open conditions” when he absconded.

He was last seen in the nearby town of Forfar and near the Tesco store in Castle Street, Forfar.

A prison drugs test in 2008 showed traces of cocaine, and John Bowden was allowed a shopping trip as part of his training for freedom despite those traces. The decision to allow the trip was understood to be linked to the drugs test being not totally conclusive, and Bowden had asked for a second test.

Trial

At John Bowden’s court case, Mr Justice Mars-Jones said:

"There was never a more terrible case of murder than this one."

John Bowden was convicted of murdering park-keeper Donald Ryan and was ordered to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison for the murder of Mr Ryan.

Sentencing

John Bowden received a life sentence in 1982 at the Old Bailey.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

In 2008, John Bowden was unlawfully at large after absconding from open prison conditions in Angus.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said the public should not approach John Bowden. The spokesman added:

"John Bowden is unlawfully at large. If anyone is aware of his whereabouts, they should contact the police."

In 2008, prison insiders were puzzled by Bowden’s absconding because he was due to go before a parole hearing which could have won him freedom in just a few days.

A prison source said:

"Bowden had asked for a second test. Even if that proved positive it wouldn't necessarily have affected his parole hearing, but absconding will."

Other details

John Bowden went on the run during a compassionate home leave in 1992. He later went on the run after escaping while on compassionate home leave in 1992, spent 18 months on the run, and was then caught.

John Bowden married secretary Alice Still, then 42, whom he met during his escape. The material said they had separated some time ago.

The group Anarchist Black Cross campaign message and Bowden’s involvement were described as part of his parole review. Bowden’s suitability for parole was reviewed a year before 2008 because of his contact with Anarchist Black Cross.

The materials referred to John Bowden as “John ‘Ginger’ Bowden” and as a “sadistic killer who cut up a man with a saw while he was alive.”