A village handyman whose past as a murderer and prison escapee emerged after he got involved in a road rage incident has told how going back to jail would kill him.
We exclusively revealed yesterday (Monday) how 68-year-old Andrew Rodger launched a foul-mouthed tirade at a cyclist, telling him he would mow him down in his van if they were alone.
But the focus of his threats was an off-duty policeman and Rodger ended up at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.
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The local odd-job man was unmasked as a killer who staged one of the most audacious prison breakouts in history.
Rodger made his bid for freedom while serving life for murder after he bludgeoned a swimming pool attendant to death with a crowbar when he was caught stealing from a vending machine in 1987.
He and two other inmates escaped from a high security prison on the Isle of Wight in 1995.
The Alcatraz-style breakout at Parkhurst saw the trio construct their own ladder, handcraft a gun and make a master key that could unlock every door in the prison.
They spent nights on the run, managing to evade a massive police hunt involving sniffer dogs and helicopters.
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After his release in 2006, Rodger moved to Garelochhead, where he’s built a close group of pals.
But his past came to light when he appeared at court last week to admit trying to attack the cyclist, who turned out to be an off-duty Ministry of Defence cop with a torch near Faslane.
Speaking at his home in the village yesterday, he said: “I’ve spent 13 years rebuilding my life and I almost threw it away.”
He told how he regretted the recent incident, which happened on August 14 last year.
Rodger said: “I lost my temper at a rude gesture. It could have had very serious consequences for me. I could have gone back to jail.
“I’m thankful that did not happen. The last seven months have been worse than when I was waiting on the murder charge.”
Fiscal depute Gemma McKechnie told the court the cop was cycling on the A814 near Faslane when he became aware of Rodger’s white Peugeot van.
She said Rodger overtook another vehicle on the road, causing the cyclist to be fearful for his safety. The off-duty officer made a hand gesture at Rodger, which made him see red.
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He confronted him further up the road when the cyclist stopped and Rodger pulled in.
McKechnie said: “He approached the witness and began shouting, ‘Who the f*** do you think you are? I’m allowed to overtake you’.
“He continued shouting, ‘I heard a cyclist get knocked down by a car and I can see why. You are a c***. If there was no one about I would f****** run you over and I would laugh. The only reason I don’t is I don’t want the f****** jail.’ The witness informed the accused he was recording the incident on his cycle camera and the accused returned to his van.
“He returned holding a black torch and thereafter lunged in an attempt to strike the witness.”
Rodger eventually made off and the cyclist and another witness reported the incident to police.
He was arrested later that day and pled guilty to acting aggressively towards the man, shouting, swearing and threatening him with violence.He also admitted assaulting the victim by trying to strike him with a torch on August 14 last year.
Rodger’s lawyer told the court he had otherwise behaved “impeccably” since his release from prison. He said: “He has built a close group of associates.”
Sheriff Simon Pender said he was persuaded against sending the killer back to jail and imposed a community payback order with two years of supervision and 250 hours of unpaid work.
Rodger was also handed a restriction of liberty order, meaning he must stay in his home between 7pm and 7am for the next five months.
He escaped from Parkhurst in January 1995 after being jailed for life for murdering 54-year-old John Garrett in London. He and his accomplices – both serving life sentences – were captured three miles from the jail five days after escaping.
On the Parkhurst break-out, Rodger, originally from Ayrshire, said: “I found out the judge had recommended a 12-year tariff but the home secretary increased this to 17. It made me flip.
“I was working in the welding shop. The worst thing they ever did was put me, a welder, in there. I made the key and the ladders. I thought, ‘Well f*** it, I’d rather die trying to escape.’”
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