Craig Rouget.

MURDERER Craig Rouget’s transfer to a UK prison did cost substantially more than a regular flight, the Home Department confirmed yesterday.
But chartering a plane to transport the killer of James Dean cost less than £3,000, said a  spokesman for the department.
Three prison warders accompanied Rouget on the flight that Les Nicolles Prison governor Terry Wright initially denied had taken place when he was contacted by the Guernsey Press.
The operation had been witnessed at the airport.
The department spokesman said prisoner transport was a routine procedure managed directly by the governor and his management team.
‘Transfer of prisoners to the UK is routine and the vast majority are completed by means of standard public flights. Guernsey’s prison service has successfully negotiated the repatriation of many UK prisoners to serve their sentence in the UK, resulting in nil cost to the island.
‘This saving far outweighs the cost incurred on the rare and unusual occasions when private charter has been risk-assessed as the most appropriate method of transport and is achieved at a cost of less than £3,000.’
Reports that Rouget, who stabbed Mr Dean to death in the High Street in 2006, would be entitled to three return trips a year to Guernsey were also confirmed.
‘Prisoners serving a sentence away from their community prison and evidenced not to have routine visits may accumulate their visits entitlement and apply to return for a specified period to receive domestic visitors.
‘The return flight costs would be met by the UK prison in question.’
The spokesman added that all external movements of prisoners were robustly risk-assessed, particularly in terms of off-island transfers.
‘Importantly, matters sensitive to the public are also considered against the offence for which the prisoner is serving sentence. This would be particularly relevant if it was considered there might be a risk of public alarm or the potential for victims or their families to unwittingly be seated on the same aircraft.
‘The prison service liaises with the probation service to ensure victims’ families are aware of the change of circumstances.’
Prisoner transfers are also not made public because it could compromise the safety of others and the escorts.
‘Options for transport are limited as Guernsey prison officers cannot operate their authority in another jurisdiction,’ said the spokesman.
‘Successful negotiation has again been achieved by the Guernsey prison service for prisoners to be met at specified airports by UK officials, therefore allowing the expedient return of Guernsey officers.’
It has been recommended that Rouget serves at least 13 years in prison, although a High Court judge will review that now he has entered the UK prison system.