Law killer Robbie McIntosh admits home leave murder bid

Robbie McIntosh attacked Linda McDonald as she walked her dog in Templeton Woods

A convicted murderer on home leave tried to kill a Dundee dog walker by battering her with a dumbbell, a court heard.

Robbie McIntosh, 31, attacked Linda McDonald in August before dragging her from a path in Templeton Woods.

McIntosh was jailed for life in 2002 for stabbing a dog walker to death on Dundee Law when he was 15 years old.

Mrs McDonald's husband Matthew condemned the decision to grant McIntosh home leave.

He said: "On August 7 a horrific and violent attack on my wife turned our family's life upside down.

"Given his past conviction for a brutal murder I can't believe the Scottish Prison Service deemed that this sick individual, who attempted to murder my wife, was allowed to be in the public domain."

At the time of the attack, McIntosh was to be considered for parole and had been allowed home leave in preparation.

Linda McDonald was in court with her family for the hearing

In a statement, Mrs McDonald's family called on the Scottish Prison Service and parole board to examine their criteria for release and assessment.

The court heard that Mrs McDonald, who attended the hearing with her family, thought she was going to die and has not been able to work since the attack.

The 52-year-old, who sustained two skull fractures and a badly damaged thumb, was left with permanent scars and now suffers from anxiety and sleeplessness.

The Scottish Prison Service said it did not comment on individual prisoners, but said "a rigorous risk assessment is undertaken prior to any offender being granted home leave."

McIntosh pled guilty to the latest charge at the High Court in Edinburgh.

He will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on 29 November.

Robbie McIntosh, pictured in 2002, was on home leave at the time of the attack

McIntosh had previously been sentenced to a minimum of 15 years after being found guilty of stabbing civil servant Anne Nicoll 29 times in 2001.

The court was told that McIntosh was given leave on 2 August this year, the 16th anniversary of the murder.

Five days later he was captured on CCTV leaving his mother's house carrying a rucksack.

Advocate Depute Iain McSporran QC told the court that Mrs McDonald had taken a path leading to Templeton Woods with her dog.

As she approached a water tower she became aware of McIntosh walking towards her "as if on a march".

'Abhorrent and disturbing'

She described him as "expressionless" as he passed her, but she heard his footsteps stop and then run towards her at speed.

McIntosh brought the weighted end of the dumbbell down on Mrs McDonald's head before continuing to hit her.

Mrs McDonald, who said she could feel blood running into her eyes and ears, screamed for help as McIntosh dragged her into the woods.

Mr McSporran said it was "a matter of great good fortune" that brothers Charles and Peter Connor were in the area walking their dogs and heard her screams and her dog barking.

McIntosh fled and was later traced in a house wearing blood-stained boxer shorts.

McIntosh's defence solicitor advocate Chris Fyffe said: "He acknowledges he has committed an abhorrent and disturbing act and that he is ashamed, contrite and penitent."

Remanding McIntosh in custody, judge Lord Arthurson told him: "This is one of the worst cases of violence I have had to deal with."