Man jailed for canal knife attacks in Inverness

The Caledonian Canal in Inverness was the scene of the attack

An armed attacker who wounded two teenagers on a canal footpath while free on bail has been jailed for five years.

Max Roberts-Dineen, 35, assaulted the boy and girl with a knife as they made their way along the Caledonian Canal in Inverness.

Neither of the victims knew Roberts-Dineen before he launched the attacks on them in August last year. Roberts-Dineen previously admitted the crime.

Sentencing him at the High Court in Aberdeen, Lord Mulholland told Roberts-Dineen he was a "menace" to the public. He will be supervised for a further three years on his release.

Roberts-Dineen admitted stabbing the 16-year-old boy on the body with a knife to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of life at the footpath near to the Seaport marina in Inverness.

He also pled guilty to assaulting the 15-year-old girl by striking her on the body with the knife to her injury.

Roberts-Dineen committed the offences, which happened three months after he was released on bail at Inverness Sheriff Court.

He also admitted that in May last year, at Glenurquhart Road in Inverness, he acted in a threatening manner by following two men walking their dogs, brandishing a knife at them and threatening to stab them.

The teenagers were making their way along the path together, with the boy on a bike and the girl on foot, when they became aware of Roberts-Dineen.

He struck the boy with a knife, leaving him bleeding heavily from his side, and struck the girl on the back with the weapon.

The boy was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and a chest drain was inserted after he was found to have suffered a collapsed lung.

He has been left with a scar.

Police found Roberts-Dineen with a bottle of alcohol and a knife in his pocket after the attacks.

Roberts-Dineen had not received a prison sentence before for his past convictions, which included an assault.

'Heartfelt apologies'

Defence counsel Bill Adam said Roberts-Dineen was diagnosed with autism three years ago, and had also suffered with his mental health. He had turned to drugs and alcohol.

"Mr Roberts-Dineen remembers little of what occurred," he told the court, but added: "He takes full responsibility for his actions.

"He is appalled by his behaviour and is deeply sorry."

Mr Adam said Roberts-Dineen wanted to offer his "heartfelt apologies" to the victims and was genuinely remorseful.

Lord Mulholland said despite being bailed for the first incident Roberts-Dineen's behaviour then escalated to the stabbing attack.

The judge said he was fortunate not to be facing a murder charge and described it as "cowardly" behaviour.

He imposed a total extended sentence of eight years, with a custodial part of five years, backdated to August last year when Roberts-Dineen was taken into custody.